What is Hydrocele?
Post Operative Instructions:

1. Apply diaper loosely or snugly, depending on your child’s urologist.

2. Timing of your child’s first bath may range from the day after surgery up to 5 days after surgery, depending on your child’s procedure; ask your child’s urologist when you can bathe your child.

3. If there is an abdominal dressing, keep it dry and intact for the first 48 hours. However, if the dressing loosens or becomes wet, it may be removed. On the third day, it is okay to remove the clear or gauze dressing. The little white strips (steri-strips) over the incision will fall off on their own. Sometimes they will come off with the clear dressing, which is okay.   If your child has surgical adhesive (like Dermabond), he may take a bath the day after surgery unless told otherwise by your child’s doctor.

4. water.

5. It is normal to have some redness, puffiness and bruising in the scrotum and groin, typically it have some swelling and may even look like bruised. This is normal and will soon go away.

6. Call the doctor, (860) 545-9520, if any signs of infection occur, such as increasing spreading redness, swelling, fever of 101.5° or greater, or increasing pain.

7. Strong pain medicine ,like codeine or another narcotic, may be prescribed for your son.  Generally, most boys do well with only a few doses of this medicine.  Many will only require some medication like Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Motrin( ibuprofen) to take care of the pain.  If the narcotic medicine is used, your son may become constipated and this is often more painful than the surgery itself.  If Tylenol with codeine has been prescribed for discomfort, give this medication with food as it may irritate the stomach. Also, give your child extra juices or finger foods, such as raisins, fruits, vegetables, and salads, which will help prevent constipation from the codeine. If your child is only slightly uncomfortable, it is okay to give just Tylenol or Motrin, unless instructed not to do so by your child’s doctor.

8. You should call the urology office, on the next working day, to schedule a surgical follow-up appointment within 2 weeks of the surgery day.

9. Your child may return to school or day care but should be restricted from riding toys, bikes, and participating in gym and sports until recommended by his doctor or until after the surgical follow-up visit