Care of wounds requiring stitches

Care of wounds requiring stitches includes pre-stitch care and post-stitch care. Before stitches, the patient’s wound needs to be thoroughly debrided. The patient’s skin surface is generally washed off with soapy water. The secretions and foreign bodies in the wound are rinsed with 1% vital iodine, hydrogen peroxide, and saline in alternating order until the wound is rinsed clean. After rinsing, clean gauze was temporarily given to stop bleeding with local pressure. After the stitches are completed, the patient needs to be closely observed for subcutaneous bleeding, fluid accumulation, pain and other related complications in the wound. Generally speaking, if there is no infection of the incision, the dressing can be changed once in 2-3 days after the stitches. If the patient’s wound becomes infected or fat liquefied after stitches, the dressing needs to be changed daily to avoid aggravation of wound infection and to promote early wound healing.