In this Article

• Introduction
• Before Surgery
• The Day of Surgery
• During Surgery
• After Surgery
• General Instructions and Follow-Up Care
• Adenoidectomy Surgical Instructions At A Glance
• Adenoidectomy Surgical Instructions Index

General Instructions and Follow-Up Care

An appointment for a checkup should be made 10 to 14 days after the procedure. Call the office to schedule this appointment.

It is not unusual for children to have nasal stuffiness following surgery. The nasal stuffiness may last for several months as swelling decreases. Saline nose drops (Ocean Spray) can be used to help dissolve any clots and decrease edema. You may notice persistent or even louder snoring for several weeks. A temporary change in voice is common following surgery, and will usually return to normal after several months. Your child, of course, will sound less "nasal" following surgery.

Bleeding is rare following an adenoidectomy. They may have some very light nasal bleeding, if it is minor, pediatric Neosynephrin nose drops can be used. If it is persistent and bright red in color, call your doctor. On occasion, blood at the corner of the eye may be noticed.

Most patients require at least 7-10 days off from work or school. After 3 weeks, exercise and swimming can usually be resumed, but no diving for two months. You should plan to stay in town for 3 weeks to allow for postoperative care and in case you have bleeding.

Notify Your Doctor If Your Child Has:

• A sudden increase in the amount of bleeding from the nose unrelieved by pressure, ice, and head elevation.
• A fever greater than 101.5 degrees F which is persistent despite increasing the amount of fluid they drink, cool baths, and acetaminophen/Tylenol. A child with a fever should try to drink approximately one-half cup of fluid each waking hour.
• Persistent sharp pain or headache which is not relieved by the pain medication they were prescribed.
• Increased swelling or redness of the nose or eyes.

Adenoidectomy Surgical Instructions At A Glance

• Adenoidectomy is a surgical procedure performed to remove the adenoids.
• Adenoids are a mass of lymphoid tissue located behind the nasal passages.
• All surgical procedures have risks and potential complications.
• Understanding what is involved before, during, and after adenoidectomy can help your child (and you) recover from the surgery as easily as possible.

Suggested Reading by Our Doctors

• Eustachian Tube Problems (Problems Clearing Your Ears) - Learn Eustachian tube problems like clearing the ears when flying, or suffering infection and incurring an ear infection.
• Tonsillitis - Learn about tonsillitis causes and types such as acute tonsillitis, strep throat, mononucleosis (mono), chronic tonsillitis, peritonsillar abscess, and hypertrophic tonsils and adenoids. Treatment depends on the type of tonsillitis or adenoid infection.

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