How do you properly clean out a huge abscess like that? Do you just let it drain and then pack it, or do you have to go in and rinse it out to make sure nothing is left behind? Can you pack something that big, or do you just put a pressure dressing on it and hope it doesn’t fill up with fluid?
I’m sure Qadgop will be along with more authoritative details, but when I had an abscess surgically drained (by an actual surgeon with a medical degree in a properly hygienic OR) after lancing the sucker (which apparently erupted like a small volcano/fountain of pus) and popping/draining all the side pockets they powerwashed it with some sort of water jet. 12psi pressure. They then troweled some goo into it (silvadene, actually) and put a dressing over it. Which then had to be changed three times a day and my facial wound washed out, then more goo troweled in. The first week or so the dressing sometimes filled up and pus started leaking out of the bandage. Yes, very ew.
For a blow-by-blow the story starts on post #44 of this thread.
Must say, the end result was pretty good. Qadgop has seen me in real life, perhaps he can comment on how noticeable that inch and a half long scar on the left side of my face is. Or isn’t. But that’s from surgery done by a plastic and reconstructive surgeon in proper conditions with diligent and proper aftercare. Home surgery like that? Who knows what the result will be?
So…ever been drunk in Clermont-Ferrond, France?
Yes, actually I have. Not sure what relevance there is to this thread, but yes.
Depends. Mostly just express as much out as you can, using pressure, mop it up, culture it, and pack the abscess with a loooooooong strand of 1/4 inch gauze to fill it loosely, leaving a couple inches outside the body to act as a wick, allowing it to drain. Otherwise it may close up again and re-accumulate. Repack it daily, or advance the wick daily, and it’ll close up from within, growing smaller over time as you keep the wound open to allow continuing drainage. Eventually it’s just a small, shallow pocket, then you can take the last of the gauze out.
That guy looked like his chest cavity was draining, not just a cyst or puss pocket.
It’s pus. A protein-rich liquid inflammation product made up of leukocytes, cellular debris, and a thin fluid called liquor puris
My veterinarian said that for her, the grossest thing she does is irrigate infected ear wax from a dog’s ear canal. She said she looks like someone from an Ebola unit when she gowns up to do one of those. :eek:
OR staff does the same thing when they’re draining a peri-rectal abscess. Not only do they smell terrible, they often do not have any symptoms until they’re huge, as in a liter or more of pus, which often shoots across the room when the abscess is first opened. :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
Several years ago, I had a root canal, and the thing about the procedure that I feared most was that the dentist would drill into my tooth and a foul smell would permeate the room - a story I had heard many times. Fortunately that didn’t happen.
The video of the guy pulling the looooong gauze out of his nose is one I also couldn’t get through. I assumed there was a long rope of clotted blood at the end like I used to get from nosebleeds and I did NOT want to see that!
This is the kind of possibility that scares me shitless. I don’t think I could bear it, or the aftercare needed. I’d have to hire a nurse who is used to this kind of thing.
I have had several cysts removed by medical professionals. Nothing ever came out that color or in anything like that quantity. Something for which I will be thankful for for many years to come.
People who have those usually spend quite a while in the hospital afterwards, much of it in the ICU, because they often have a lot of other health problems. It’s not infrequently a sign of leukemia, especially in men (in which they are far more common; can’t recall ever being involved in the treatment of a woman with this).
looked odd. I dont believe it wasnt put there but I have never heard of that sort of…pus.
I watched enough of it but now I regret it!
Looks like packing that is being pulled out
Thanks, I feel better now. 
Human bodies produce things which can look and smell gross and this was certainly a job for a Doctor.
That said, even you were desperate and in bombed-out battlefield conditions, why the Hell would you ever let anyone operate on you or drain any infection out of you with a dirty toe-jam encrusted nail clipper?
Eww.
Just got further into the video & stopped when I realized that they are doing this in some sort of white tiled Public Restroom.
I am never ever EVER clicking on that link.
Now, now, you don’t know that they didn’t sterilize that clipper with a bic lighter or maybe dunking it in some rotgut whiskey.
Actually, involvement of alcohol and/or drugs would not surprise me.
Is firmly in the “no way am I clicking that link!” camp. Not even a little fence sitting here.
that was clip was disgusting, fascinating in a train-wreck sort of way and absolutely amazing all at the same time. why did I look?!?!
same reason I did, no self control! Our fingertips are not controlled by our brains