• Facial Paralysis

• Larynx and Voice

• Nose and Sinuses

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea

• Parathyroid Glands

• Salivary Glands

• Skull Base Surgery

• Thyroid Gland

• Tonsils and Adenoids

• Acoustic Neuroma Surgery

• Adenoidectomy and Tonsillectomy

• Cochlear Implant Surgery

• Direct Laryngoscopy (micro-suspension laryngoscopy)

• Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

• Laser-Assisted Uvulo-Palatoplasty (LA-UP)

• Mastoidectomy

• Myringotomy and Tubes (PETs)

• Parathyroidectomy

• Parotidectomy

• Pituitary gland surgery (trans-sphenoidal approach)

• Radio-frequency Uvulo-palatoplasty (Somnoplasty)

• Salivary Gland Surgery

• Septoplasty

• Stapedectomy

• Submandibular Gland Excision

• Thyroidectomy

• Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy

• Tympanoplasty

• Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP)

Post Operative Instructions

The purpose of your sinus surgery was to remove the diseased tissues form your sinuses and to open the sinus cavities into the nose in order to improve drainage.

Removal of diseased tissues results in "raw areas," denuded of mucous membrane.  Because of that, you should expect some bleeding, blood clots and serous (yellow) drainage from your nose.  Surgery also results in swelling of the tissues so you can expect a feeling of congestion and fullness throughout the nose and paranasal sinus areas.

Things you should do:

1. Wear a cotton gauze under your nose for the first few days following surgery to absorb nasal drainage.

2. Humidify the air you breathe (humidifier or vaporizer) since you will not be able to breathe through your nose for a few days after surgery.

3. Use hypertonic saline nasal irrigation (one heaping teaspoon of canning salt, pickling salt or kosher salt to one pint of boiling water which has cooled to body temperature) starting two or three days after surgery if no packing is in the nose.  You may irrigate with a bulb syringe of a Water-Pik with a nasal adapter.  Do the irrigation three or four times daily.

4. You should sniff back any nasal secretions rather than blowing your nose.  DO NOT BLOW YOUR NOSE.

5. Sneeze with your mouth open if you have to sneeze.  Do not catch or block any sneeze.

6. Avoid any heavy activities (lifting or bending) for 10 days after surgery.

7. Take medications prescribed but only for as long as they are prescribed (such as antibiotics, pain medications).

8. You may also take over-the-counter pain pills that do not contain Aspirin or Ibuprofen.  A list of medications to avoid can be found here.

9. Permissible medications include: Tylenol (regular or extra-strength) or a generic acetaminophen.

Things you should not do:

1. You should NOT use over-the-counter nose sprays (Afrin, NeoSynephrine, etc).

2. You should NOT use any steroid nasal sprays (Nasacort, Flonase, Nasonex, Nasalide, Rhinocort, etc) until instructed by your physician.

3. DO NOT take any antihistamines because of their drying effect (Claritin, Clarinex, Allegra, Zyrtec, Tavist, Benadryl, Tylenol sinus, Dimetapp, Drixoral, etc.)

4. DO NOT take any aspirin-containing or anti-arthritis products (Excedrin, Anacin, Advil, Motrin, Naprosyn, Anaprox, etc.)

Please consult your physician if you have other questions or need clarification of these instructions.  Notify the office IMMEDIATELY if you have profuse nasal bleeding or visual disturbances, (713) 795-0111.