Post-operative wound management.

BACKGROUND: Optimal management of post-operative wounds in the community is important to prevent potential complications such as surgi-cal-site infections and wound dehiscence from developing. As such, general practitioners, who play an important part in the sub-acute management of post-operative wounds, should appreciate the physiology of wound healing and the principles of post-operative wound care.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this article is to update general practitioners on the important aspects of post-operative wound care. This includes a review of the physiology behind wound healing, an update on wound cleansing and dressing methods, as well as a guide on how common post-operative wound complications should be managed.

DISCUSSION: The key elements of post-operative wound care include timely review of the wound, appropriate cleansing and dressing, as well as early recognition and active treatment of wound complications.