What to Expect After Surgery

Surgery

We, at PENTA, understand if a surgery or test is required, it can be a very worrisome time for you and your family. Our nurse will make every effort to coordinate any testing or surgery with your schedule.

We schedule surgery at Children's West Surgery Center and East Tennessee Children's Hospital. We will contact your insurance company to authorize your surgery and obtain pre-certification if necessary. We do request that you contact your insurance company as well if you have any questions about benefits or deductibles.

Post Op Instructions:

This information is to help you with your child's post-op care. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our office at 865-673-8229. After hours, if you are unable to get in touch with Dr. Graves or the physician on call and have concerns you feel need to be addressed by a physician, please take your child to Children's Hospital or your nearest emergency room.

CLICK HERE for our General Post Op Guide.

This will help, regardless of the procedure...
or you can just download below to keep!

Myringotomy
 

What to expect after Myringotomy (Ear Tubes Surgery)

  • The type of PE tube used can vary depending on the clinical situation and Dr. Graves' judgement. Grommet-shaped tubes generally remain in place for 6 to 12 months; T-tubes may remain in place for several years.
  • Dr. Graves may prescribe eardrops for a few days after surgery; use these drops as directed.
  • It is common to see drainage from the ears for several days after surgery. The drainage may be slightly blood-tinged and should resolve within 3-5 days. If drainage persists longer than 3-5 days, has a yellow or green color or foul odor, please contact our office.

Tonsillectomy/
Adenoidectomy

What to Expect after Tonsil/Adenoid Surgery

  • Ear Pain- It is common to have ear pain for up to 1 week after surgery. You may need to continue pain medication to treat this pain.
  • Decreased Appetite and Weight Loss- Your child may have a decreased appetite for the first 7-10 days. Encourage your child to drink plenty of liquids. This will keep your child from getting dehydrated and help with the overall pain.
  • Snoring/Stuffy Nose- Your child may experience some snoring and have a stuffy nose nose due to the swelling.
  • White Patches in the Throat- white patches in the back of the throat are common. These are the scabs that are associated with normal post-operative healing.
  • Neck Pain- Neck pain is common due to the position of the head during surgery. This pain will resolve on its own.
  • Bad Breath- Bad breath is expected and will go away approximately 7-10 days after surgery.
  • Constipation- Constipation can occur while taking pain medications. Increased fluids can help with this condition, but over-the-counter pediatric stool softeners can help.
  • Nasal Drainage- Some blood-tinged nasal drainage can be expected. (Please notify our office if the blood is bright red.)

Endoscopic
Sinus Surgery

What to expect after Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (ESS)

  • Avoid strenous activity. This includes any bending, lifting, working or full activity until after your post-operative visit or Dr. Graves have given you specific clearance.
  • Your child may need to sleep with the head slightly elevated for the first few days after surgery. This will help to reduce the bleeding and swelling. You may also use an ice pack in a washcloth for 15 minutes at a time.