bandages and pm sites

There seem to be many out there wondering about how soon they can shower after pm insertion. I talked to my EP about this. I had the dressing removed the morning following the surgery which I had the previous evening. Site was then thoroughly sprayed with "OpSite" This is a totally waterproofing silicon type spray. (I am not entirely sure what it is) that lasts about two weeks, so I was able to shower straight away. I had dissolvable stitches, so there was no problem with infection and wound healed quickly. EP cannot understand why this preparation in not used universally. I am sure it is available world wide, or something similar.
Hope this helps people.
Alma Annie.

8 Comments

PM sites

by Roys - 2012-09-09 02:09:40

I would just like to add that I had a look at a picture I took the day after the PM was put in and there are no stitches visible, so they would have been internal.
Roy

Where do they use OpSite at?

by PacerRep - 2012-09-09 04:09:11

What part of the world are you in? I am going to research this, I have never heard of it

So....

by PacerRep - 2012-09-09 04:09:35

All they did was sutre and then spray on the OpSite...nothing else? No bandage. You could basically see the wound right away through the OpSite spray?

OpSite

by Alma Annie - 2012-09-09 04:09:41

Hi Pacer Rep,
I live in South Australia. OpSite spray is made by Smith and Nephew. They do have several web sites. Just type in their name. I think they may be British.
My cardio/EP is Professor Prash Sanders. He also has a web site, just type in his name and it comes up. He has spent much time overseas and is quite 'switched on!'

There are other products totally waterproof and transparent to cover wounds, enabling showering. I found the spray very satisfactory and it started to wear off after two weeks.

Hope this helps. Alma Annie

Spray

by Alma Annie - 2012-09-09 05:09:38

I had a dressing on overnight. Then the nurse removed it, sprayed and off I went to shower. Yes you could see wound which was all neat and tidy! I presume nurse examined it to make sure all was well. I did go to my GP After a week, my decision, and he had a look and all was well.
It was all so easy and I never had wound problems like many people seem to have on this site. When I mentioned this to EP he was amazed and almost horrified that others did not use this product. He, apparently has never had a problem with it.

The only thing I had to be careful with was not lifting my left arm above my shoulder for 6 weeks which i think goes for most people.

I would appreciate your feed back.

Alma Annie

Op-Site

by Zia - 2012-09-09 06:09:06

Op-Site it not new. I work in medical records and have seen it reported as applied to surgical sites for at least 5-7 years, don't know if the spray form is new, but....

PM sites

by Roys - 2012-09-09 06:09:26

Yes my PM was put in 2 years ago by Prash Sanders and a spray was used, and I had no problems or pain after.
Cheers Roy

never heard of it

by JustKrs - 2012-09-10 05:09:07

never heard of such a thing.
I'm in Chicago and my doc is at one of the major teaching hospitals here

My incision has steri-strips over it which is why i can't get it wet. (same for original pacemaker insertion and for pocket revision)

I had 2 layers of coverings on it.
I had a first layer of covering that was removed at some point in recovery - that was a thicker more foam like tape.

And then the next morning the removed the rest of the bandage which was paper tape (used instead of tegaderm because last time they torn my skin badly when removing the teg).

So once it was time to go home i just had the series of steri-strips that I'm not to get wet for at least a week.

once week after surgery is "wound check" appointment and then they will tell me if i can get it wet and if i can drive.

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