Pilonidal Emergency Contacts and Protocols

Knowing when and who to contact during a pilonidal emergency can prevent serious complications. This guide provides clear protocols for various emergency situations.

Emergency Contact List

Immediate Contacts

| Contact Type | Phone Number | When to Use | |--------------|-------------|-------------| | Local Emergency | 911 | Life-threatening emergencies | | Surgeon's Office | [Your surgeon's phone] | Non-urgent questions, office hours | | After-Hours Line | [Surgeon's after-hours] | Urgent issues outside office hours | | Local ER | [Nearest ER phone] | Serious symptoms after hours |

Medical Information to Keep Handy

• Surgeon's name and contact information
• Surgery date and procedure type
• Current medications and dosages
• Drug allergies and reactions
• Insurance information and card
• Pharmacy phone number

When to Call Your Surgeon vs. Go to ER

Call Your Surgeon For:

• Increasing pain not controlled by medication
• Concerning drainage (color, amount, odor)
• Mild fever (below 100.4°F/38°C)
• Small wound separation (less than 1cm)
• Medication questions or side effects
• Dressing change questions

Go to Emergency Room For:

• Uncontrolled bleeding soaking through dressings
• High fever above 101°F (38.3°C) with chills
• Shortness of breath or chest pain
• Severe allergic reaction (swelling, difficulty breathing)
• Inability to urinate for 8+ hours
• Confusion or disorientation

Urgent Care Appropriate For:

• Moderate pain needing stronger medication
• Dressing changes when office closed
• Minor wound concerns needing assessment
• Prescription refills when surgeon unavailable
• Simple infection concerns

Symptoms Classification Guide

Red Symptoms (Go to ER Immediately)

• Chest pain or pressure
• Difficulty breathing or wheezing
• Severe bleeding that won't stop
• Loss of consciousness or fainting
• Severe allergic reaction with swelling
• High fever with confusion

Yellow Symptoms (Call Surgeon Urgently)

• Increasing pain despite medication
• Spreading redness around wound
• Foul odor from drainage
• Fever between 100.4-101°F (38-38.3°C)
• Wound separation with visible deep tissue
• Concerning drainage changes

Green Symptoms (Office Call Next Day)

• Mild increased discomfort
• Small amount of clear drainage
• Itching around healing area
• Minor swelling that's improving
• Dressing technique questions
• Medication refill needs

After-Hours Communication

What to Expect

• Answering service will take your information
• On-call doctor will return your call
• Be prepared to describe your situation clearly
• Have your information ready before calling

Information to Provide

• Your full name and date of birth
• Surgery date and procedure type
• Current symptoms and onset time
• Temperature if you have fever
• Current medications and doses
• Any actions you've already taken

Questions They'll Ask

• "On a scale of 1-10, how severe is your pain?"
• "When did the symptoms start?"
• "What have you tried to help the situation?"
• "Are you having any trouble breathing?"
• "What is your current temperature?"

Preparation for Emergency Visits

Go Bag Essentials

• Insurance cards and photo ID
• Medication list with dosages
• Surgeon's contact information
• Recent medical records if available
• Phone charger and power bank
• Comfort items (pillow, water, snacks)

Documents to Bring

• Surgery summary from your surgeon
• Discharge instructions
• Medication list from hospital
• Allergy information
• Advanced directive if you have one

What to Wear

• Comfortable, loose-fitting clothing
• Easy-to-remove items for examination
• Slip-on shoes for convenience
• Layer clothing for temperature changes

Communication Tips

When Calling for Help

• Speak clearly and slowly
• Start with most important information first
• Listen carefully to instructions
• Repeat back important information
• Ask clarifying questions if unsure

At the Emergency Room

• Bring someone to advocate for you if possible
• Be concise but thorough with symptoms
• Bring current medications or accurate list
• Mention your recent surgery immediately
• Ask about pilonidal-specific concerns

Follow-up Communication

• Update your surgeon after ER visits
• Get copies of ER records for your surgeon
• Follow up as recommended
• Keep records of all communications

Specific Emergency Scenarios

Bleeding Emergency

• Apply direct pressure with clean gauze
• Lie down and elevate feet if lightheaded
• Do not remove soaked dressings - add more
• Time how long bleeding continues
• Seek help if not controlled in 10 minutes

Infection Emergency

• Take temperature every 2 hours
• Mark redness borders with pen to track spread
• Note any changes in mental status
• Watch for rapid heartbeat or breathing
• Seek immediate care for systemic symptoms

Pain Emergency

• Take prescribed medication as directed
• Use ice packs around wound (not directly on)
• Try positioning changes for relief
• Contact help if unrelieved by medication
• Do not take new medications without advice

Allergic Reaction

• Stop any new medications
• Take antihistamine if previously prescribed
• Watch for breathing difficulties
• Seek immediate care for swelling or breathing issues
• Bring medication that caused reaction if known

Pediatric Emergency Considerations

When to Seek Help for Children

• Fever above 100.4°F (38°C) in infants
• Lethargy or inability to be awakened
• Dehydration signs (no tears, dry mouth)
• Severe pain causing inconsolable crying
• Refusal to eat or drink

Special Considerations

• Children may deteriorate more quickly
• Pain expression may be different than adults
• Medication dosing must be weight-appropriate
• Parents should advocate strongly for their child

Elderly Emergency Considerations

Additional Risk Factors

• May not show typical infection signs
• Medication interactions more likely
• Dehydration risk higher
• Mobility issues may complicate care
• Multiple medical conditions may interact

Special Considerations

• Bring complete medication list including supplements
• Mention all health conditions
• Advocate for pain management
• Consider mobility limitations in treatment plan

Post-Emergency Follow-up

After ER Visit

• Contact your surgeon within 24 hours
• Provide ER discharge papers to your surgeon
• Follow up as recommended
• Update your medication list
• Schedule follow-up appointment if needed

Documentation

• Keep copies of all ER records
• Note changes to your treatment plan
• Update your medical information file
• Share information with all your doctors

Prevention Planning

• Discuss prevention of future emergencies
• Update emergency contacts
• Review warning signs recognition
• Create action plan for future issues

Technology Tools

Emergency Apps

• Medical ID on smartphone lock screen
• Health app with medical information
• Emergency contact apps
• Hospital wayfinding apps
• Translation apps if language barriers

Preparation Apps

• Medication reminder apps
• Symptom tracker apps
• Medical record storage apps
• Appointment reminder apps
• First aid instruction apps

Communication Apps

• Text-to-speech for communication difficulties
• Translation apps for non-English speakers
• Video call apps for remote consultation
• Messaging apps for family updates

Creating Your Emergency Plan

Step 1: Contact Preparation

• Program all emergency numbers into your phone
• Keep written copies in multiple locations
• Share contact information with family members
• Post emergency numbers by home phones

Step 2: Information Organization

• Create medical information folder
• Keep updated medication list
• Have insurance information accessible
• Prepare go-bag with essentials

Step 3: Education

• Learn warning signs of complications
• Understand when to seek help
• Practice describing symptoms clearly
• Know your medication names and doses

Step 4: Practice

• Role-play emergency calls with family
• Practice going through your information
• Time your route to nearest ER
• Test your emergency bag contents

Remember: It's always better to seek help and have it be a false alarm than to wait too long with a serious complication. Your medical team would rather hear from you unnecessarily than have you suffer needlessly.

Last Updated: September 2025