General, Minimally Invasive & Thoracic Surgery

Instructions For Your Child After Excision Of A Lesion

DRESSING:

Your child will either have:

• No dressing at all.
• White gauze dressing covered by clear plastic (Tegaderm®) - Remove this dressing after 3 days.
• A regular bandage.
• Small white bandages (Steri-strips®) – These will usually fall off in 1-3 weeks.

STITCHES:
Stitches hold the incision together

• Your child may have stitches that are under the skin and do not need to be removed. The body will absorb them.
• Your child may have stitches that you can see and will have to be removed on a return appointment to the physician’s office.

BATH:

• Keep the dressing dry for 2 days. – Sponge bathing is okay.
• After 2 days the child can shower or bathe as usual unless restricted by the physician.
• No soaking in a tub or swimming for 3 days.

ACTIVITY:

Today:
If your child had general anesthesia:

• Your child should rest quietly for the next 24 hours or have quiet supervised play.
• Your child may be unsteady on his/her feet.
• Naps may be off schedule today. They may be longer or shorter than usual.

After today:

• Your child’s activity can be as it was before surgery unless restricted by your physician. 

If your child had local anesthesia:

• Your child’s activity can be as it was before surgery unless restricted by your physician. 

DIET:

• Your child may eat or drink as usual.
• If vomiting occurs, do not give your child anything to eat or drink for 2 hours.   Then offer small amounts of clear liquids, half strength formula or half strength juice until your child does not vomit any more. Then slowly start on their normal diet.

PAIN:

• Your child may have a prescription for pain medication such as Tylenol® with Codeine. If the incision remains uncomforatble use the prescription medication according to instructions.
• Your child may take Tylenol® (acetaminophen) or Motrin® (ibuprofen) for discomfort if the pain is mild.