Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

AFTER SURGERY

As explained on your other information sheet, you can expect headache and mild fever. Follow the directions in that sheet as regards to sleeping with your head propped up. Take medications as recommended after surgery. If you have had your septum straightened, you may have very thin pieces of plastic called splints, which have been sewn onto either side of the septum. These will need to be removed approximately one week following the operation. Until they are removed, you may experience some difficulty breathing through your nose.

Recovery time after surgery usually averages about 10 days. This will vary depending upon the procedure and the patient.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call our office. Our office is open five days a week. In case of an emergency after normal office hours, please call our office and they will page the on-call physician.

POSTOP:

Keep head elevated as much as possible. May sleep in recliner chair if one is available.

May use saline spray (such as Ocean or Ayr) and very gentle nose cleaning on the day of surgery and thereafter. DO NOT blow nose vigorously.

Begin nasal irrigation with saline solution (one teaspoon of salt to two cups of water) with children's bulb syringe the morning after surgery, unless you have packing in your nose. Do this 3 - 4 times a day.

Prescriptions for discharge medication (pain, antibiotics and possibly allergy medications) will be provided at the hospital.

You will probably do best after surgery by taking liquids for the first day. After that you may eat and drink as you wish.

If splints are used inside the nose, they will be removed within one week after surgery.

Remember that a very important part of this procedure is the after surgery care. You will need to do and keep your office appointments in order to speed the healing process.

EXPECT:

Bloody nasal discharge requiring change of mustache dressing for several days.

Continued blood tinged postnasal drainage for 3 - 4 weeks.

Headache, sinus pain, nasal congestion and temperature as high as 100 degrees, sore throat and sore neck are all to be expected.

You may expect to be away from work or school for approximately one week.

Please call our office with any questions or problems.