What to expect, what to do

1. All children

Encourage your child to drink fluids to avoid dehydration. Fluids should be offered every 1-2 hours while awake. The first meal should be light, avoid fast foods.

Rest and quiet play are encouraged for the first few days – watch a movie, read, play a board game.

Avoid riding or motion toys, or anything requiring coordination the first 24 hours due to your child having had anesthesia medications which are still continuing to wear off.

Expect your child to nap or tire easily the first few days. Night time restlessness is common.

Call your surgeon if your child has:

• a persistent severe headache
• fever over 101.5’
• persistent (over 12 hours) vomiting
• increased pain or foul smelling drainage

Do not use additional Tylenol/Acetaminophen with pain meds containing acetaminophen.

A Surgical Services RN will call you the day after your child’s surgery to answer any questions you may have and to check on your child’s recovery progress.

2. Tonsil patients

Avoid “scratchy” or spicy foods and citrus drinks to prevent pain or irritation. Start diet with soft foods, foods should not be served hot – allow to cool to room temperature.

Report any signs or symptoms of bleeding to your surgeon. If bleeding should occur, have your child swish and swallow ice water, apply an ice collar to the neck area and Call MD immediately.

Avoid red colored popsicles the first few days so as not confuse fluids with bleeding.

Cold fluids and popsicles are soothing for throat pain. Some children like an ice pack placed over the neck area. Chewing gum if age appropriate also helps decrease pain by helping keep the throat lubricated.

Avoid using Ibuprofen and Aspirin products as these can increase the risk of post-op bleeding.

Avoid using straws to drink until the throat is completely healed since this may also increase the risk of bleeding

Avoid strenuous activity (such as running, dance, sports) for 2 weeks post-op to decrease the risk of bleeding. Pain may increase at around post-op day 5, when scabs in the throat begin to separate – there is also a risk of bleeding at this time.

MD/Surgeon will let you know when your child can return to school and activities.

Halitosis (bad breath), low grade fever (99-101) mild ear and throat pain are all normal post-op symptoms.

3. Ear surgery patients

With all ear surgeries keep ears clean and dry, do not insert anything into ears, clean only the outer part of the ear.