Surgery Resources

Aesthetic tourism has increased exponentially since the lockdowns as a result of the Coronovirus pandemic. People seeking cosmetic procedures or surgeries often opt to travel abroad for various reasons, including cost-effectiveness, availability of advanced technologies, and sometimes a desire for privacy. However, the incidence of problem wounds experienced by medical tourists on returning to the United Kingdom has become a major cause for concern. This article discusses the experiences of a patient who had bariatric surgery abroad with no complications who then decided to have further surgery to remove excess skin following her dramatic weight loss. It highlights the complications which can occur, as well as the difficulties and problems faced by the patient upon their return to the UK.

Surgical wound dehiscence develops when the edges of a surgical incision separate along the suture line due to infection or suboptimal healing, leading to an open wound. Surgical wound dehiscence can have a significant impact on the patient’s quality of life, increases the demands on healthcare professionals’ time and is costly to the health economy. Over 50% of patients with surgical wound dehiscence are managed in the community and treating these types of wounds is challenging. General practice nurses (GPNs) need to be aware of those patients that are more likely to present with surgical wound dehiscence and take a preventative approach, as well as understanding the principles of best practice for assessment and management when caring for this group of patients.