To Post-Operative Patients:

These are some brief instructions that should answer most of your questions during your post-operative period. We have a 24-hour answering service that will notify Dr. Payton and/or Dr. Murry or Dr. Roediger after hours regarding questions, concerns or emergencies. The office number is 797-5753.

• WHAT ARE ADENOIDS?  The adenoids are a pad of tissue located behind the back of the nose in the throat.  They cannot be seen by looking into the mouth.  Adenoids can become enlarged and block the Eustachian tube or the nasal airway.  Adenoids can also become a reservoir for bacteria.

REASON FOR ADENOIDECTOMY:

• NASAL OBSTRUCTION: Enlarged adenoids can block the nasal airway and lead to mouth breathing, snoring, or Obstructive Sleep Apnea.  Adenoidectomy restores the nasal airway and allows the patient to breathe through the nose properly.
  
• CHRONIC OTITIS MEDIA: Enlarged adenoids can block the Eustachian tube allow bacteria to enter the Eustachian tube and lead to ear infections.  Recent research studies have shown that adenoidectomy maybe effective in addition to tube placement in the treatment of ear infections.

• BEFORE SURGERY: No aspirin, Pepto-Bismol, Ibuprofen (Advil, Mortin, Pediaprofen), or Naprosyn (Aleve) for two weeks before or two weeks after surgery.  Acetaminophen (Tylenol, Tempra, or Panadol) may be given, as well as over the counter cold medications or antibiotics.  Please notify the doctor if there is a family history of bleeding tendencies or if the child tends to bruise easily.

• THE SURGERY: Adenoidectomy is performed on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia.  The surgery takes 20-30 minutes and your child remains in the hospital for 1-2 hours afterwards.

• POSTOPERATIVE CARE: You will be given a prescription for pain medication.  Bad breath is very common after surgery.  You will be given an antibiotic, which should help this somewhat.  Normal diet and activities can be resumed as soon as your child feels up to it.

• NAUSEA AND VOMITING: Some experience nausea and vomiting from the general anesthetic.  This usually occurs during the first 24-36 hours after surgery.  If there is persistent nausea or vomiting, please call the office.

• FEVER: A low-grade fever is normal for several days after surgery and should be treated with acetaminophen or acetaminophen with codeine.  Please call the office if the fever continues past several days.  Lack of fluid intake can also cause fever and increased pain, so drink a lot (water, non-citrus juices, popiscles, Gatorade, Pedialyte, or the like)!

• PAIN: Most children have littile postoperative pain.  Some experience a sore throat or headache for a few days, which usually relieved by acetaminophen.

• EARACHE: Some also complain of ear pain.  This does not mean an ear infection.  The same nerve that provides sensation to the throat also goes to the ears, and the brain sometimes gets the signals confused.  Treat the throat pain, and the ear pain should go away.

• FOLLOW UP: Our office will call you to check in on you.  We do not need to see you routinely for follow-up.  If you are having problems or concerns, please call for an appointment.