Preoperative and Postoperative

Many cases of sinus or pilonidal cyst find solution in surgical treatments, through Sinus Surgery or Pilonidal Cystectomy, an ambulatory intervention applied when drainages and antibiotics are not enough to treat this pathology.

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preparation: before pilonidal surgery

Pilonidal cyst surgery, also called sinus surgery or pilonidal cystectomy, is a surgical procedure performed to remove the sacral cyst, that is, a cavity caused by the accumulation of hair at the base of the spine or coccyx area, which mainly affects young, white men with a lot of hair in the area.

Basically, the cyst occurs when the hair follicles become infected and develop a pilonidal abscess , which can be treated both surgically and non-surgically.

Preparation for pilonidal surgery requires some simple care, such as:

  • Use of antibiotics: it starts with the intraoperative administration of intravenous antibiotics, which will be maintained orally during the first postoperative week.
  • Diet: from a few hours before surgery the patient should not eat anything (solids from 6 hours before and water or infusions without milk from 2 hours before surgery). Food and nutrition before and after sinus surgery is very important to achieve an excellent recovery and postoperative healing.
  • Shaving: In general, the patient is asked NOT to shave . shave the area before surgery, as it increases wound infection rates. The medical staff will use surgical clippers to trim the hair in the area during surgery. Shaving the area after surgery is also not recommended.
  • Anesthesia: The surgery is performed with the application of sedation and locoregional anesthesia (also called spinal anesthesia), which consists of a puncture in the back to numb the entire area of the intervention.
  • Travel: Under no circumstances is it recommended to travel or travel a lot on the day of surgery and even a few days after. It is recommended to maintain certain rest and to attend the postoperative control, for the possible removal of the drainage. It is also not recommended to take a flight after surgery, until there is a minimal recovery from surgery.

Antibiotic use

before and after surgery is necessary for the patient's full recovery and healing.

Resting

A few days of rest, with no travel or exertion, will help the patient to heal completely.

Do not shave

It is not advisable to shave the area neither before nor after pilonidal surgery, since it could lead to the occurrence of an infection in the area.

CARE: AFTER pilonidal surgery

After pilonidal surgery, the patient also requires some simple care to ensure complete healing of the cyst, such as:

  • Physical activity: Although there are no restrictions on daily activities after pilonidal surgery, the patient must take extreme measures to avoid accidental drainage leakage or direct trauma to the wound. Therefore, the practice of sports is restricted, as well as any activity where the patient could fall, for four weeks after the operation.
  • Wound care: Change dressings once or twice a day, depending on the case. Gauze should be kept over the incision and drainage site for at least 5 days. It is also recommended to keep a gauze pad tucked between the buttocks, to separate them and allow air to circulate and prevent the incision from rubbing against the opposite buttock. It is very important not to apply ointments, antiseptics or special bandages without the authorization of the specialist.
  • Showering: It is recommended to take a shower at least 24 hours after surgery and to wet the incision and drainage. But, in no case, the patient should submerge in a bathtub or go swimming until one month after surgery. After the surgery, the wound should be carefully dried with a hair dryer, without rubbing it with a towel.
  • Clothing: In the postoperative phase, it is very important that the patient wears loose-fitting clothing, especially not tight around the buttocks. These garments will facilitate air circulation and, most importantly, will not put pressure on the buttocks. In particular, it is recommended not to wear tight underwear, tight pants, girdles or similar shaping garments.
  • Diet: In general, there are no dietary restrictions after surgery, but it is recommended to follow a diet rich in protein (at least 50 g/day), fiber and fluids. Protein will help healing and fiber and fluids will keep bowel movements soft.
  • Constipation: If constipation persists despite an adequate diet, consult your surgeon about the possibility of using specific laxatives.
  • Antibiotics: Some antibiotics will be prescribed during the week after surgery, which is essential for the complete and successful healing of the wound.
  • About Drainage: The doctor will leave a clear plastic tube with slits on the sides for drainage of the wound for a few days. This should be emptied daily and the amount of fluid coming out of the drain should be recorded daily. See the specific section of the website related to postoperative drainage management for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

about pilonidal sinus
The main signs of a pilonidal cyst are as follows:
  1. Reddening of the skin
  2. Pain
  3. Presence of pus or blood in an opening of the skin.
  4. Unpleasant odor of oozing pus.

This pathology should be treated by a specialist in coloproctology, which is responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the colon, rectum and anus.

As we know, the pilonidal cyst is located in the region above the intergluteal fold, an area of treatment for this specialist.

A pilonidal cyst is a cavity that forms around a hair follicle in the crease between the buttocks, which may look like a small dimple or pore in the skin containing a dark spot or hair.
Incertain cases, the cyst may become infected, resulting in a pilonidalabscess .
In many cases, the pilonidal cyst cannot be removed without surgery, especially if it is a chronic condition. Therefore, only in acute processes can it be eliminated with drainage and antibiotic treatment.
Lo que dicen de nosotros
"Operación de sinus pilonidal casi mágica con láser SiLaC, ningún dolor en la recuperación y vida normal prácticamente desde la salida del hospital. Trato súper cercano y muy profesional, 100% recomendable!"
M.A, 25 años
"La verdad que al principio estaba un poco nerviosa, pero la operación en sí no se siente, ya que se te duerme completamente. Además, el postoperatorio no es tan horrible y los dolores tampoco son demasiado fuertes. Si se tiene cuidado en la recuperación se cura todo perfectamente dejando una cicatriz que tampoco destaca mucho. La verdad que muy satisfecha con el resultado."
Inés Ibáñez, 18 años.
"Al principio fue un susto el pensar en entrar en mi primera cirugía y también la importancia de la operación. Los días antes de la operación estaba muy nervioso al pensar si todo saldría bien, el proceso de la operación mientras estuviera allí en camilla, el post operatorio, etc. Pero sin duda todo salió tan bien en relación con lo que me esperaba. Ya no solo la manera en la que me tratasteis antes de la operación, sino también durante el proceso. La experiencia fue dura al ser mi primera operación, pero el post operatorio fue bastante bien y desde que me dieron el alta, no he vuelto a sufrir daños ni ha empeorado. Os agradezco esta solución que me habéis ofrecido para que el sinus haya desaparecido. Gracias."
SVL, 17 años
"Me operaron de un Sinus Pilonidal mediante una nueva técnica que tenía una mejor recuperación y así fue. Los primeros días con mucho cuidado y haciendo el menor esfuerzo, los pase sin dolor ya que no me tuve que tomar ningún tipo de analgésico. El drenaje apenas echó líquido y quizás fue lo que más me molestaba, ya que al moverme el tubo claramente se movía también. En cuanto me lo quitaron poco a poco podía sentarme mejor y sin dolores a menos que andase o estuviera sentada más tiempo del debido. Las cicatrices están perfectamente, no he tenido ningún tipo de problema y avanza muy bien."
NAS, 19 años

Somos especialistas en el tratamiento de la enfermedad pilonidal y en patologías colorrectales en Madrid

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Edificio de Rehabilitación Integral y Fisioterapia del Hospital San Rafael. 2ª planta.
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