Surgical Drainage

[hurkleho]

Hi there, I'm not really asking advice here, just curious. I had abdominal surgery for a bowel blockage 8 weeks ago and now have a 20cm hard lump along the incision (an ultrasound only confirmed that it is not a hernia or seroma).
A few days after surgery my drainage tube became completely blocked by fatty-looking material and, in an effort to unblock it, the entire contents were pumped back into my abdomen.
Could this be the source of my mysterious lump? (Don't worry, I'm getting fully checked out on Thursday, it's just me wondering if this is a stupid question to ask the surgeons)
Thanks in advance

[anneasquith]

No question is stupid to ask your surgeon, that's why you are going to see him:-)

[Sqad]

Whatever the ultrasound said......my money is on that being a seroma that has thickened and possibly calcified and has little to do with your blocked drain of some weeks ago.
Seromas usually contain fluid, but if they persist as in your case, then they may thicken, as yours seems to have done.
No big deal.......let us know what happens on Thursday.

[Sqad]

20 cms? are you sure? that is nearly 8inches.

[hurkleho]

Yes, sqad- it's a beast! (my GP measured it) I can only wear smock dresses as waistbands, even elastic ones, are too painful) I'm skinny too, so it looks like I've just shoplifted a watermelon

[Sqad]

If it is red and painful, it could be a "stitch abscess".........a few "stitch abscesses "m ;-).
what was causing the obstruction?

[hurkleho]

It was a caecal volvolus (5 years ago I was diagnosed with intestinal malrotation. Had Ladds procedure but problems persisted and became increasingly worse until this emergency surgery 8 weeks ago). Narrowly avoided a colostomy, which I'm terribly grateful about, but I've been left pretty deformed by this mass

[hurkleho]

Btw, I didn't have stitches, wound was glued and healed really well... this lump seems to be independent of the actual incision

[Sqad]

The stitches that form stitch abscesses are not skin sutures, but subcutaneous ( under the skin) or peritoneal ( even deeper).
I am stumped but look forward to your AB communication on Thursday.

[Peter Pedant]

yeah ask him
he will have the scans and we dont

[Peter Pedant]

Eek and adult with malrotation and Ladds procedure....
I have never even heard of such a case
you are unique indeed

[hurkleho]

Yes Peter, had bad gut problems my whole life and was told IBS until age 35!

[hurkleho]

I'll keep you posted Sqad, and thanks for all your help

[hurkleho]

Hi folks, surgeon said he would have sworn it was a hernia but the ultrasound didn't show one. He has ordered a ct scan so I will report whatever that finds to you. A curious one!

[Sqad]

Thanks hurklo....much appreciated.
I opened a new thread for you headed FAO Hurkleho.

[hurkleho]

Hi Sqad, it took a while but eventually got my answer from a CT scan- it's a 25cm large, round ball of fat! Hard as a rock, too. It wasn't there before surgery so, weird as it sounds, I can only imagine it came about as an accidental fat transfer from that drainage issue. I look like an ironing board with an inverted triangle of breasts on it. Fingers crossed I can get it removed somehow!