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Texas Ear Center is a division of Texas Ear, Nose & Throat Specialists.

Post Op Instructions

Ear Surgery
(Tympanoplasty, Mastoidectomy)

  1. Keep all water out of operated ear.  When showering, bathing, or washing hair, place some Vaseline on cotton ball and insert into ear canal.  When finished washing or bathing, remove cotton ball and wipe ear dry.
  2. Do not blow your nose or lift objects heavier than 10 pounds.
  3. If you need to sneeze, keep your mouth wide open to avoid exerting excessive pressure in the back of the nose.
  4. Avoid strenuous activities.  You may continue most other regular activities.
  5. The head dressing (if any) can be removed the day after surgery.  You may wipe the area around the ear with a clean, damp cloth.  Avoid excessive manipulation of any incisions.
  6. If antibiotic ear drops have been prescribed, place 5 drops in the ear two times a day until your physician directs you to stop.
  7. If there is an incision behind the ear, apply the antibiotic ointment (Bacitracin/Polysporin/Neosporin) to the area three times a day until your physician directs you to stop.  You may remove any crusts with Q-tip or towel and some peroxide.
  8. Any cotton in the ear can be replaced as needed.  Blood-stained drainage from the ear is normal after ear surgery.  Once the ear drainage subsides, use of the cotton can be discontinued.  Do not remove anything else from inside the ear canal.
  9. For ear pain, use Tylenol as directed or prescription medication as directed.  The pain is usually not severe and will subside in a few days.  If jaw joint pain occurs, apply a heating pad or compress to the area and take over-the-counter ibuprofen as directed.
  10. Some numbness of the ear and tongue, altered sense of taste, are normal after surgery.
  11. Some dizziness after surgery is normal.  If it does not improve gradually over time, call the office.  Call the office for purulent drainage, severe dizziness, fever above 101.5 F, or facial weakness.
  12. Make an appointment to see the doctor in 3 to 4 weeks. Follow up times may vary and you'll be given specific dates after your procedure.

Instrucciones de Cuidado Postoperatorio Cirugía del Oído

 
Postoperative Care Instructions
Stapedectomy

  1. Keep all water out of operated ear.  When showering, bathing, or washing hair, place some Vaseline on cotton ball and insert into ear canal.  When finished washing or bathing, remove cotton ball and wipe ear dry.
  2. Do not blow your nose or lift objects heavier than 10 pounds.
  3. If you need to sneeze, keep your mouth wide open to avoid exerting excessive pressure in the back of the nose.
  4. Avoid strenuous activities.  You may continue most other regular activities.
  5. If antibiotic ear drops have been prescribed, place 5 drops in the ear two times a day until your physician directs you to stop.
  6. If there is an incision behind the ear, apply the antibiotic ointment (Bacitracin/Polysporin/Neosporin) to the area three times a day until your physician directs you to stop.
  7. Any cotton in the ear can be replaced as needed.  Blood-stained drainage from the ear is normal after ear surgery.  Once the ear drainage subsides, use of the cotton can be discontinued.  Do not remove anything else from inside the ear canal.
  8. For ear pain, use Tylenol as directed or prescription medication as directed.  The pain is usually not severe and will subside in a few days.
  9. Some dizziness after surgery is normal.  If it does not improve gradually over time, call the office.  If dizziness becomes severe and is associated with sudden loss of hearing and/or dizziness, call the office immediately. 
  10. Some numbness of the ear and tongue, altered sense of taste, are normal after surgery.
  11. Call the office for purulent drainage, severe dizziness, fever above 101.5 F, or facial weakness.
  12. Make an appointment to see the doctor in 3 to 4 weeks.  Follow up times may vary and you'll be given specific dates after your procedure.


Postoperative Care Instructions
Cochlear Implant

  1. Avoid strenuous activities.  You may continue most other regular activities.
  2. The head dressing (if any) can be removed the day after surgery.  You may wipe the area around the ear with a clean, damp cloth.  Avoid excessive manipulation of any incisions.
  3. If there is an incision behind the ear, apply the antibiotic ointment (Bacitracin/Polysporin/Neosporin) to the area three times a day until your physician directs you to stop.  You may remove any crusts with Q-tip or towel and some peroxide.
  4. For ear pain, use Tylenol as directed or prescription medication as directed.  The pain is usually not severe and will subside in a few days
  5. Some numbness of the ear and tongue, altered sense of taste, are normal after surgery.
  6. Some dizziness after surgery is normal.  If it does not improve gradually over time, call the office.  Call the office for purulent drainage, severe dizziness, fever above 101.5 F, or facial weakness.
  7. Make an appointment to see the doctor in 3 to 4 weeks. Follow up times may vary and you'll be given specific dates after your procedure.


Postoperative Care Instructions
BAHA

  1. Keep all water out of operated ear.  When showering, bathing, or washing hair, keep the water away from the implant site for 2 weeks.  After 2 weeks, the area can get wet but dry it gently with a dry cloth.
  2. The head dressing (if any) can be removed the day after surgery.  You may wipe the area around the ear with a clean, damp cloth.  Avoid excessive manipulation of any incisions.
  3. Apply the antibiotic ointment (Bacitracin/Polysporin/Neosporin) to the area three times a day until your physician directs you to stop.
  4. For ear pain, use Tylenol as directed or prescription medication as directed.  The pain is usually not severe and will subside in a few days.
  5. Call the office for purulent drainage, severe dizziness, fever above 101.5 F, or facial weakness.
  6. Make an appointment to see the doctor in 3 to 4 weeks. Follow up times may vary and you'll be given specific dates after your procedure.
     

 

Postoperative Care Instructions
Aural Atresia Repair

  1. Keep all water out of operated ear.  When showering, bathing, or washing hair, place some Vaseline on cotton ball and insert into ear canal.  When finished washing or bathing, remove cotton ball and wipe ear dry.
  2. Do not blow your nose or lift objects heavier than 10 pounds.
  3. If you need to sneeze, keep your mouth wide open to avoid exerting excessive pressure in the back of the nose.
  4. Avoid strenuous activities.  You may continue most other regular activities.
  5. The head dressing (if any) can be removed the day after surgery.  You may wipe the area around the ear with a clean, damp cloth.  Avoid excessive manipulation of any incisions.
  6. If antibiotic ear drops have been prescribed, place 5 drops in the ear two times a day until your physician directs you to stop.
  7. If there is an incision behind the ear, apply the antibiotic ointment (Bacitracin/Polysporin/Neosporin) to the area three times a day until your physician directs you to stop.  You may remove any crusts with Q-tip or towel and some peroxide.
  8. Any cotton in the ear can be replaced as needed.  Blood-stained drainage from the ear is normal after ear surgery.  Once the ear drainage subsides, use of the cotton can be discontinued.  Do not remove anything else from inside the ear canal. 
  9. It is normal for the ear canal hole to become smaller during the healing process.  However, if the hole becomes less than ¼ inch, call the doctor’s office.
  10. You may remove the dressing around the arm the day after surgery.  The red cloth dressing should be left in place and allowed to dry.  A dry dressing may be placed over this area only if desired.  The cloth dressing will begin to peel off at the edges.  The loose portions of this cloth dressing can be cut off with scissors.
  11. For ear pain, use Tylenol as directed or prescription medication as directed.  The pain is usually not severe and will subside in a few days.  If jaw joint pain occurs, apply a heating pad or compress to the area and take over-the-counter ibuprofen as directed.
  12. Some dizziness after surgery is normal.  If it does not improve gradually over time call, the office.  Call the office for purulent drainage, severe dizziness, fever above 101.5 F, or facial weakness.
  13. Some numbness of the ear and tongue, altered sense of taste, are normal after surgery.
  14. Make an appointment to see the doctor in 2 weeks. Follow up times may vary and you'll be given specific dates after your procedure.
     

 

Postoperative Care Instructions
Myringotomy and Tube

  1. Keep all water out of operated ear.  When showering, bathing, or washing hair, place some Vaseline on cotton ball and insert into ear canal.  When finished washing or bathing, remove cotton ball and wipe ear dry.
  2. If antibiotic ear drops have been prescribed, place 5 drops in the ear(s) two times a day for the number of days specified by your physician (usually 3-5 days).
  3. If any water does enter the ear canal, place 3-4 drops of the antibiotic ear drops into the ear one time.
  4. The presence of some light, pinkish drainage for the first few days is normal.  A piece of cotton can be kept in the ear to catch the drainage.
  5. For ear pain, use Tylenol as directed or prescription medication as directed.  The pain is usually not severe and will subside in a few days.
  6. Call the office for purulent drainage, severe dizziness, or fever above 101.5 F.
  7. Make an appointment to see the doctor in 3 to 4 weeks. Follow up times may vary and you'll be given specific dates after your procedure.
     

 

Postoperative Care Instructions
Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy

  1. Keep head elevated on 2 or more pillows when in bed.
  2. Consume as much fluids as tolerated.  Water, apple juice, and other non-citrus juices are fine. Avoid citrus drinks such as lemonade or orange juice, as these may cause throat pain.  Avoid hot drinks, which can cause bleeding.
  3. A soft diet can be taken when tolerated.  Avoid foods that have sharp edges (toast, etc.) and hot foods (temperature) that can cause bleeding.  Spicy foods can cause throat pain and should also be avoided.
  4. The throat pain can be significant, but Tylenol or other prescription pain medication used as directed should be adequate to make the pain tolerable.  The throat pain should begin to improve after two to three days but may not completely resolve for 10 to 14 days.
  5. A whitish membrane will form where the tonsils were and the breath may be malodorous for a few days.  These findings are normal.
  6. If any bleeding, breathing problems, or fever above 101.5 F occurs, call the office immediately.
  7. Make an appointment to see the doctor in 3 to 4 weeks. Follow up times may vary and you'll be given specific dates after your procedure.
     

 

Postoperative Care Instructions
Transsphenoidal Hypophysectomy

  1. Keep head elevated on 2 or more pillows when in bed.
  2. You may blow your nose gently.
  3. It is normal for crusts to form in the nose after surgery.  Use the salt water nasal spray and apply 2 sprays in each nostril 4 times a day.  This will help minimize this.
  4. There may be plastic splints inside the nose.  These will be removed in the office around 2 weeks after the surgery.
  5. The stitches under the lip will dissolve on their own over 2-3 weeks.
  6. If there is an abdominal wound, keep it clean and dry.
  7. For ear pain, use Tylenol as directed or prescription medication as directed.  The pain is usually not severe and will subside in a few days.
  8. Call the office for bleeding, purulent or persistent, clear nasal drainage, or fever above 101.5 F.
  9. Make an appointment to see the doctor in 3 to 4 weeks.Follow up times may vary and you'll be given specific dates after your procedure.
     

 

Postoperative Care Instructions
Acoustic Neuroma Surgery

  1. Keep head elevated on 2 or more pillows when in bed.
  2. Avoid strenuous activities.  You may continue most other regular activities.
  3. The sutures behind the ear will usually be removed around 2 weeks after surgery.
  4. If there is an abdominal wound, keep it clean and dry.
  5. For pain, use Tylenol as directed or prescription medication as directed.  The pain is usually not severe and will subside in a few days.
  6. Call the office for severe headaches, severe dizziness, persistent, clear nasal drainage, drainage from the wound or nose, worsening facial weakness, or fever above 101.5 F.
  7. Make an appointment to see the doctor in 3 to 4 weeks. Follow up times may vary and you'll be given specific dates after your procedure.