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Delaying Pilonidal Surgery (article 5/7) Gain some valuable pilonidal sinus healing tips Unfortunately it is often the case that pilonidal operations fail. Due to the disruption these operations cause, it is normal for people to enter a stage where they consider delaying further surgery, and sometimes even going as far as to contemplate "living with it". This allows them to focus on their employment or studies and it removes the risk of having another failed operation, but is it a good decision? In answering this question, it is always important to start by taking two factors into account; how long the intended delay is for, and what the reason is for it. For example, if a student is about to take their final year exams and they wish to postpone their pilonidal operation by a few weeks so as not to interfere with their studies, this would be more than understandable and the decision would be a simple one. On the other hand, if a worker wants to delay their operation for a couple of years because their boss is growing tired of having to find cover, this length of time is very questionable and it seems clear that the person's health should take priority. Another point to consider is the extent to which the condition is currently affecting the person's life. Some people are fortunate enough to have only a very mild form of pilonidal disease. Discharge may occur only once every few weeks and pain is slight, if at all. Providing that the intended delay is short, delaying surgery here would likely be acceptable. At the other end of the scale, another person may experience excessive bleeding from the area, requiring daily dressings, and pain being almost intolerable at times. In these cases, delaying surgery should not be considered, regardless of the intended delay. Aside from these direct and obvious affects, the condition may also be impacting more subtly such as lowering a person's confidence and self-esteem. For this reason, it is important to look at all aspects of the condition, and not just those that are immediately observable. Interestingly, what people tend to do in these situations is to minimise the true impact that the pilonidal disease is having on their life. By developing workarounds and making adjustments to their daily routine, for example so they can avoid sitting down, they find that they are able to cope with the condition. However, although they can cope, they often don't take any time to reflect on how much better their life would be if they were actually healthy again. In these cases, it can be useful to make a list of the activities they would do, the improvements to their lifestyle, and generally how things would be different if they no longer had the condition. So what are the risks, if any, of delaying pilonidal surgery? Usually there are no ill effects of delaying the operation for a short time. This is evident by the typical lack of changes in the wound during the period after an operation is scheduled and before it is performed. However when delayment exceeds several months, there is a greater chance of problems occurring. This is because infection tends to deepen and worsen over time. Following this route often results in the person starting a routine of frequently taking antibiotics whenever there is an issue, which does no favours to the wound. Antibiotcs only work superficially and immunity to the drugs will gradually build. Also, depending on the wound, if the infection worsens and has nowhere to escape, an abscess (or cyst) can easily form causing severe pain and trauma to the area. Allowing the wound to deteriorate to this level can result in the need for multiple operations in order to fully heal the area. Additionally, the person also runs the risk of accumulating their health problems with more serious conditions such as septicemia, which can occur when a person's immune system is overused over a sustained period of time. Even though the person has endured failed operations, it is critical in these times to remain optimistic. What is definite is that the condition will be cured at some point in time, and the sooner these operations are performed, the sooner that will happen. Most of all, it is important to realise that the pilonidal condition will not heal by itself, even if symptoms are mild. In summary, if there is very good reason, the delay is for a short time (no longer than several months), and the affects of the condition are truly minimal, then a delay in surgery would be a logical and justifiable decision. Comments No comments yet. Add Comment