Incision after 8 week POST OP questions

[PeteCrev]

8 weeks post op......My question is I still have a small amount of puss at one end of the incision on my chest. It builds up once a day and I have to pop it as gross as it sounds. Anyone else have that out there? Is this normal?

 

[Paleowoman]

Yes I had that, or something similar, and wrote about it on forum here: http://www.valvereplacement.org/forums/showthread.php?42583-Possible-problem-with-sternal-incision Mine 'popped' itself during the night for several nights and built up again during the day. I went and had the incision checked out by a GP who said it was 'clean' and fine. Weird though.

 

[pellicle]

8 weeks post op......My question is I still have a small amount of puss at one end of the incision on my chest.

I suggest you speak to your GP about it. It may be just some minor infection working itself though or it may not. Are you on any antibiotics currently?
Was any swab taken to be cultured?
Have you had a CRP count done ? (it is a marker for infections, a finger prick test common in many hospitals)
Have you previously reported this to your GP?

 

[Mentu]

Have it checked!

Have it checked!

Pete, have you your GP look at it. It is very typical that a spot down by the lower tip of the sternum is the last to heal but since there are signs of infection, it really should be looked at. I had a bump that oozed clear fluid until about six weeks but never pus. One of the things of which you must now be more vigilant is infection because of the possibility of it developing into endocarditis. Even with a mechanical valve, the area around the stent may be at greater risk of infection. I think that 8 weeks is long enough; have someone look at it.

Larry