What are the wound care instructions?
Clean the wound with hydrogen peroxide using a cotton swab twice each day. Apply antibiotic ointment (bacitracin or polysporin) to the wound. Empty the drain bulb twice each day and record the output. Once the sutures are out, you may wash the wound with soap and water and gently dry the area. Three weeks after surgery, you may begin to massage the wound using a vitamin E or aloe containing lotion or oil. This will soften the scar over time. If you are scheduled for post-operative radiation therapy, check with the radiation doctors about what lotion is safe. What medications do I take? While the drain is in place, most patients are on antibiotics. You will also be given pain medication to take on an as needed basis. What are the diet orders? Expect to eat a liquid and soft diet for the first few days after surgery. If you find yourself coughing immediately after drinking, try thicker liquids or pudding consistency foods. If you continue to have this problem or if you develop chest disc
