EAR, NOSE, THROAT SURGERY l
Post Operative Instructions
Preoperative Instructions l Post Operative Instructions
BMTT l
Nasal Sinus Surgery l Adenoidectomy
l Suture Line Care l Nose
Bleed
Vestibular Exercises
The
following documents are for
your review and download or
printing. If at any time you
have questions/concerns/issues
please call Ear, Nose and Throat,
Ltd. at 757-623-0526 during
office hours. For life threatening
emergencies, as always, call
911 or visit the closest emergency
room. For non-life threatening
emergencies with regard to
your treatment at Ear, Nose
and Throat, Ltd., call 757-623-0526.
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HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS
In BMTT, the “B”
stands for bilateral which means
“both sides.” The
“M” stands for myringotomy,
which is the incision in the
eardrum. “TT” stands
for tympanostomy tube, which
is placed in the eardrum to
allow air to enter the middle
ear so that fluid will not collect.
This reduces the frequency of
infection.
• Do not allow water to
get in your child’s
ears until allowed
by the doctor.
• To keep ears dry while
bathing, put Vaseline on
a piece of
cotton and place it snugly
in your child’s ears.
• A small amount of drainage
or blood is not unusual in the
first 48 hours. It may be cleaned
with a Q-tip. Do not put a cotton-tip
applicator deep into your child’s
ear.
• If your child has persistent
ear drainage after 48 hours.
• If you child’s
temperature is 101.5° or
more (slight fevers after surgery
are normal)
• If you have any questions
(please hold non-emergent
questions for calls between 8:30 AM to
4:30 PM,
Mon – Fri)
• Normal activity, including
school, may be resumed the following
day.
• Call the
office at 623-0526 on the
day of discharge
to set up a post op appointment.
It
is important to make this
call as soon as possible, since
the doctor’s schedule
can fill up quickly. The Appointment
Scheduler will know when your
post op appointment is due
depending
on the type of surgery preformed,
unless otherwise directed
by
your surgeon.
HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS
Much nasal congestion
and postnasal drainage is secondary
to non -specific irritation
and accumulation of mucus in
the nose and high in the throat.
This can be successfully decreased
by cleansing the nose with a
mild saltwater solution.
This maneuver accomplishes three
(3) main things
1.
The physical action of washing
the nose out removes the
small irritating particles
and collections of mucus
which cause a continuing
cycle of irritation and
congestion.
2. Saltwater is medicinal
in decreasing irritation.
3. Saltwater decreases congestion. |
• Add one
(1) teaspoonful of ordinary table
salt and a pinch of baking soda
to a drinking glass full of lukewarm
water. The amount of salt may
be increased or decreased to
make the solution just strong
enough to taste salt.
• This should then be
placed in a small bowl, cupped
hands, or may be used with a
rubber bulb syringe. The “Birmingham
Nasal Douche” device may
be purchased at any drug store.
Some find that this makes the
sniffing easier.
• Place your nose in the
liquid and sniff strongly so
that the solution is carried
completely through the nose
into the back of the throat.
This material may be expectorated.
It should get into the back
of the throat two or three times
with each use.
• Coughing, gagging, and
irritation may be experienced
until this maneuver becomes
familiar. Some patients feel
it is helpful to gargle in the
usual manner just prior to
sniffing – this helps
decrease the gagging.
• It is suggested this
be done in the morning upon
arising, before breakfast, and
in the evening one-half hour
before retiring.
• Initially, this should
be done for 5 to 7 days and
then decreased in frequency
until only used intermittently,
perhaps once or twice a week.
If congestion persists, you
should be re-evaluated by your
physician.
HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS
The adenoids are found
in the upper part of the throat,
above the palate. Adenoidectomy
is the operation to remove
the
adenoids.
• You can expect your
child to complain of a sore
throat. Swallowing is painful.
Give your child the medicine
for pain that your doctor ordered.
Do not give aspirin or aspergum
because it may increase the
chance of bleeding. You may
use an ice collar on the throat
to help with the pain relief.
• Your child will have
some ear pain for as long as
two weeks after surgery. This
pain is referred pain from the
tonsillar area and does not
mean that anything is wrong
with ears.
• Frequently there will
be a nasal quality in your child’s
voice following the operation.
This is a natural accompaniment
of removal of bulky tonsils
and/or adenoid tissue from the
resonating cavities of the mouth
and back of the nose. This may
persist for several weeks until
the muscles readjust. It may
be helped somewhat by having
the child say “kick”
many times a day. This exercises
his throat and mouth muscles.
• Your child will have
bad breath, but this is normal
and will go away.
• Your child needs
to drink lots of fluids. This
is very important. You want
to avoid citrus juices such
as orange or grapefruit juice
because these juices may burn
the throat.
Eating and drinking helps healing
and decreases pain because it
exercises the sore muscles in
the throat.
• The diet should be
frequent liquids, especially
for the first three (3) days.
These may include milk, water,
ginger ale, cola or other carbonated
beverages, ice cream, popsicles
or soups. Lack of proper fluid
intake may cause high fever
from dehydration! The second
day milk, toast, Jello or any
soft food may be added. Harsh,
hard or rough foods may cause
pain or bleeding from the throat.
As soreness decreases, a normal
diet may be resumed. As long
as fluid intake is adequate,
your child will resume eating
solid food voluntarily as the
discomfort subsides.
• Your child may be up
and about but needs to be limited
to quiet play. Your child should
not take part in contact sports
or strenuous play until instructed
by your physician.
• Your child may return
to school when instructed by
your physician, usually 7 to
10 days. Physical education
classes should not be attended
for two weeks after surgery.
HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS
• Clean suture line twice
(2) a day with a solution made
up of one (1) part
hydrogen peroxide and one (1)
part saline or water
• Using a clean gauze
or a Q-tip, gently moisten the
sutures and immediate
surrounding skin with the solution
• Apply either Polysporin
/ Neosporin / Bacitracin ointment
to the suture line after each
cleaning (twice a day)
• If redness, swelling
or drainage develops, contact
our office at 757-623-0526
• Suture lines may be
exposed to water while bathing.
Dry suture line by gently patting
the area with a soft clean cloth
or towel.
HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS
Your doctor is treating
you for nosebleeds. These are
caused by superficial blood
vessels near the front of the
nose. The aim of treatment is
to protect this area so the
blood vessels can heal. This
may require either chemical
or electrical cautery within
the nose. Occasionally, blood
vessels have to be cut in the
process of an operation.
• Obtain a tube of either
Bacitracin / Polysporin / Neosporin
from the drug store (no prescription
needed).
• Squirt this ointment
up your affected nostril as
directed by your doctor –
this will be about ½
inch of ointment, or about ½
as much toothpaste as you would
put on a toothbrush.
• Then take a piece of
cotton, the size of the last
joint of your finger, and put
it in that side of the nose.
• Three (3) times daily,
remove the cotton, squirt more
ointment in your nose, and put
a clean piece of cotton in –
do this for as many days as
your doctor prescribes.
• The next phase is to
continue the ointment three
(3) times daily, without cotton.
• If there should be
bleeding, and there may be during
the healing phase, blow out
your nose, put ointment in the
nose, and a large piece of cotton.
• Keep your head elevated
rather than lying down.
HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS
Exercises to be carried
out for fifteen (15) minutes
twice (2) a day, and increasing
to thirty (30) minutes as your
physical status permits.
| EYE
EXERCISES |
•
Looking up, then down –
slowly at first, then quickly,
20 times.
• Looking
from one side to another
– slowly at first,
then quickly,
20 times.
|
| HEAD EXERCISES |
•
Bend head forward then backward
with eyes open – slowly,
then quickly, 20 times.
• Turn head from
one side to another—slowly,
then quickly 20 times
• As dizziness
improves, these exercises
should be done with eyes
closed. |
| SITTING |
•
While sitting, shrug shoulders
20 times. Turn shoulders
to right then to the left,
20 times. Bend forward and
pick up objects from ground
and sit up 20 times.
|
| STANDING |
•
Change from sitting to standing
and back again 20 times
with eyes open. Repeat with
eyes closed. Throw a small
rubber ball from hand to
hand under one knee.
|
| MOVING
ABOUT |
•
Walk across room with eyes
open, then closed, 10 times.
• Walk up and down
a slope with eyes open,
then closed, 10 times.
• Walk up and down
steps with eyes open, then
closed 10 times.
• Any game involving
stooping or turning is
good.
|
|
