Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 5, 2026
A Standardized Procedure of Dressing Management for Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
Published on: March 14, 2025
Dermatological postoperative patient information leaflets: is it time for more uniformity?
1Dermatology Department, Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, Devon, UK.
Introduction:
Patient information leaflets (PILs) are an important source of information for patients postoperatively. There are currently no nationally agreed standards by dermatologists for postoperative advice following skin surgery.
Aim:
To assess the common themes and areas of variation in advice given in PILs after skin surgery across all National Health Service (NHS) hospitals in England and Wales.
Methods:
All acute trusts in England (n = 159) and local health boards in Wales (n = 7) were requested to provide their postoperative dermatological PILs for general sutured wound care or excision biopsy. Eight preselected parameters were assessed: minimum dressing duration, duration of pressing on a bleeding wound, postoperative analgesia, explanation of infection signs, application of petroleum jelly, scarring, whom to contact if there is a problem, and the recommended postoperative time for abstaining from active exercise.
Results:
PILs were received from 137 different dermatology departments belonging to 127/166 (76.5%) organisations across England and Wales. Of these, 102 PILs gave a specific duration for dressings: 45/102 (44.1%) advised a minimum of 48 h, but 28/102 (27.5%) recommended leaving dressings in place until suture removal. Regarding duration of pressing on a bleeding wound, 117 PILs gave advice, with the most common recommendation being 15 min (30/117, 25.6%), followed closely by 10 min (26/117, 22.2%). Of the 137 PILs received, 125 gave advice regarding postoperative analgesia, with paracetamol alone being the most common recommendation (24/125, 19.2%). For the remaining parameters, 111/137 (81.0%) PILs described ≥ 2 signs of infection, 42/137 (30.7%) recommended the application of petroleum jelly, 65/137 (47.4%) mentioned scarring, 137/137 (100%) highlighted whom to contact if there were postoperative problems and 87/137 (63.5%) PILs gave advice regarding postoperative abstinence from active exercise.
Conclusions:
The advice given in dermatology postoperative PILs across England and Wales is highly variable. A nationally agreed template or set of postoperative advice should be considered to improve consistency.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Peripheral Artery Disease V: Postoperative Nursing Management
01:24Ostomy Care
An ostomy is a surgical procedure that creates an artificial opening from the intestines to the outside of the body, allowing for the rerouting of effluent. This opening is known as a stoma. A stoma usually protrudes above the skin surface, appearing pink or red, moist, and round, and it lacks nerve sensations.
There are different types of ostomies, including colostomies, ileostomies, and urostomies:
01:31Discharge Summary Forms
Here's a detailed look at the key components and guidelines for preparing a discharge summary:
01:28Cardiomyopathy VII: Pre and Post Operative Nursing Management