Vascular Surgery Groin Incision Care
The doctor made an incision in your groin for vascular surgery or a procedure. You will leave the hospital before this fully heals. Groin incision care should be done every day. Your nurse will tell you if more is needed.
How to Do Groin Incision Care
Your incision is most often closed with stitches or staples. You may get the incision wet in the shower. Do not swim or soak in a bathtub or hot tub.
• Clean the wound and groin. Gently clean it with mild soap and water. Remove any dried drainage. Do not scrub the incision. Rinse off all the soap.
• Pat the incision dry with a towel. Completely dry the groin. Do not use any lotions, alcohols, powders, or oils on your incision.
• Cover the wound with gauze.
• Use paper tape to hold the gauze in place.
Why Do Groin Incision Care
About 2/3 of all infections after vascular surgery involve the groin wound. The groin areas are where the legs meet the belly. The skin in that area folds over to make a crease. Moisture in that crease can lead to an infection. Wash and dry the groin daily. This can help to avoid an infection.
Look at your wound every day. Call your doctor if you notice any signs of infection.
Signs of Infection
• An increase in redness or warmth at the incision site.
• Red streaks that start at the stitches or staples.
• New drainage or bleeding from your wound. Drainage may be foul-smelling, cloudy, yellow or green.
• Bulging or increased swelling at incision site.
• A temperature more than 101.5° F (38.5° C) by mouth for two readings taken 4 hours apart.
• A sudden increase in pain at the wound that is not relieved by your pain medicine.
Phone Numbers
Vascular Surgery Clinic - (608) 263-8915 (8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday).
After hours, the clinic number will be answered by the hospital paging operator. Ask for the Vascular Surgery doctor on-call. Give paging your name and phone number with the area code. The doctor will call you back.
If you live out of the area, call 1-800-323-8942.
Reference
Pounds, L., Montes-Walters, M., Mayhall, C., Falk, P., Sanderson, E., Hunter, G., & Killewich, L. (2005). A changing pattern of infection after major vascular reconstructions. Vascular & Endovascular Surgery, 39(6), 511-517.
The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Last Updated: 04/23/2012
Copyright © 04/23/2012 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#7348
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