No, incision and drainage (I&D) for abscesses is generally considered a minor surgical procedure, often done in a doctor's office or urgent care with local anesthesia, but it can become more complex, requiring general anesthesia or operating room settings for deep or large abscesses, potentially involving imaging guidance or catheters. The key difference is its typical simplicity, quick procedure time, and outpatient nature, though recovery can take weeks.
Is incision and drainage considered a surgery? Incision and drainage are considered minor surgical procedures, as they can normally be done in a practicioner's office or urgent care facility.
Incision and drainage (I&D), also known as clinical lancing, are minor surgical procedures to release pus or pressure built up under the skin, such as from an abscess, boil, or infected paranasal sinus.
A typical incision & drainage procedure takes several minutes to perform. Sometimes it may take up to an hour.
If your abscess is in a sensitive area or you have a larger abscess, we might need to drain it under a general anaesthetic in the operating theatre. This is a medicine that makes you sleep during the procedure and stops you feeling anything.
It is normal to experience some pain and discomfort for approximately one week after your procedure. To help with this, you can take regular pain relief medication such as paracetamol or ibuprofen (remember to always read the label before taking any medication).
an 80% 7-day success rate with incision and drainage. For this reason, clinicians who attain initial success with needle aspiration should caution patients that further drainage may be required.
Effective treatment for infections and abscesses
Incision and drainage is a medical procedure used to treat infections or abscesses that have formed in the body. The procedure involves making a small incision in the affected area, allowing the pus or infected fluid to drain out.
This causes some discomfort and a stinging sensation that lasts for a few seconds. Your skin will then feel numb: you will be able to feel pressure but not sharp pain. We try to perform an incision and drainage under local anaesthetic whenever it is possible.
Bathing It is safe to shower one day after surgery. Simply let water run into the incision and pat the area dry. It is important to let the water get inside the wound as this will promote healing. Please shower prior to each dressing change if possible.
Most patients with an abscess should have incision and drainage performed, as antibiotic therapy alone is not sufficient for treatment. In cases of small fluid collections, conservative management with antibiotics, in addition to the manual expression of pus can be considered.
Procedure Details
On MDsave, the cost of an Incision and Drainage of Skin Abscess (in office) ranges from $196 to $686. Those on high deductible health plans or without insurance can shop, compare prices and save.
How should I care for my procedure site(s)? Keep your bandage in place for 24 hours if not packed, 48 hours if packed.
The most common reason for incision (cut) and drainage is to treat an abscess. An abscess is a collection of pus surrounded by a red and inflamed area of tissue. The reason an incision and drainage will be performed is to release the collection of pus from the body.
What complications can happen?
The area where the incision and drainage (I & D) procedure will be performed is always sterilized first. In most cases, a local anesthetic like bupivacaine or lidocaine will be used. Sedation or general anesthesia might be necessary in more complicated cases.
Early warning signs of sepsis include fever or low temperature, chills, rapid breathing or heart rate, confusion, slurred speech, extreme pain or discomfort, clammy/sweaty skin, and reduced urine output, with children potentially showing fewer wet nappies, vomiting, or a non-fading rash. These symptoms, often appearing after an infection, signal a severe body response and require immediate emergency care, as sepsis can rapidly worsen, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Infections after surgery are caused by germs. The most common of these include the bacteria Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Pseudomonas.
Incision and drainage may cause: Swelling, soreness, and redness in the impacted site. Infection at or around the site of the incision. Discomfort or pain at or around the location of the incision.
Purulent wound drainage
This type of drainage is always a cause for concern as it indicates an infection. If you're experiencing this type of wound drainage, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Here are some tips to help prevent abscesses:
Generally, a complicated I&D is more involved than a simple I&D, and may require multiple incisions, drain placement, wound packing, or probing to break up loculations within the abscess. A simple I&D usually involves a single incision to drain pus and leave the wound open to heal on its own.
In general, patients who undergo percutaneous abscess drainage will remain hospitalized for a few days. Further follow-up is usually done on an outpatient basis and you will be seen by your interventional radiologist at regular intervals to ensure that the healing process is proceeding according to plan.
When we're stressed out, our bodies find it harder to fight infection as our immune systems are weaker. If bacteria in the mouth gets inside the teeth, gums or bone, this can lead to dental abscesses, which can be incredibly painful and will require a dentist to clear the build-up of pus that accumulates.
You may take a shower. Remove the dressing before your shower. After your shower, pat the incision site dry with a clean towel. Put on a new dressing.