Pictures after surgery can help identify possible infections

According to a study published in November in the scientific journal Nature, usually taking pictures after surgery can help identify future injuries more easily. The argument of researchers at the University of Edinburgh (UK) is that patients who adhered to this practice had a much lower rate of return to hospital with postoperative infections.

Scientists warn that infection is linked to more than a third of deaths after surgery. With this in mind, they followed the cases of 492 patients, and were instructed to answer an online questionnaire about post-operative wounds and symptoms. Study participants were divided into two groups: the first group was instructed to send pictures of the wounds, which were subsequently evaluated by doctors.

The study followed both groups over 30 days after surgery, and found that the first group (which sent pictures) were nearly four times more likely to have an infection diagnosed within a week than the second group (which sent none). Pictures).

The first group also had a lower rate of medical consultations and reported a better experience with postoperative care. “Our study shows the benefits of using mobile technology for follow-up after surgery. Most of us don’t know what wound usually heals a few weeks after surgery,” says study advisor Ewen Harrison. The researchers’ idea now is to determine the best way to perform this practice.

“Since the beginning of the epidemic, there have been major changes in the way we take care of after surgery. Patients and doctors are accustomed to conducting teleconsultations and we have shown that we can effectively and safely monitor wounds after surgery while patients recover at home.”, the researchers concluded.

Source: temper nature via University of Edinburgh