POST OP INSTRUCTIONS FOLLOWING PE TUBE PLACEMENT

DIET:

- Children or adults who have received general anesthesia may experience some nausea and occasionally, vomiting.  It is therefore preferable to eat a bland light meal or a liquid diet on the first day after the surgery.

KEEP EARS DRY:

- Keep the ears dry.  Do not allow water to enter the ear after surgery.   Plug the ears with a cotton ball and vaseline petroleum jelly when showering or washing the hair for a minimum of 5 days following surgery.

- In general it is better to avoid swimming or total submersion of the head underwater.  If the patient does wish to swim, this must be done in a clean, cholorinated pool; lake water or unchlorinated pool water may cause further infections.

MEDICATIONS:

- Eardrops are usually prescribed 3-7 days after the surgery.  Do not refrigerate eardrops.  Hold bottle in your hand for a few minutes to bring the eardrops to body temperature.  Cold eardrops cause a brief but unpleasant vertigo/dizziness.

- Following the insertion of PE tubes, there isn't much pain.  Tylenol should suffice to control any discomfort.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

If you have ear drops from your pediatrician used for pain such as Auralgan, Tympagesic, or Americaine, please throw them away. These drops will burn the middle ear tissue while the tubes are in place.

WHAT SHOULD BE EXPECTED FOLLOWING EAR TUBE PLACEMENT?

- If your child had hearing loss before surgery, normal sounds may seem loud  due to the immediate improvement in hearing.

- Your child may experience nausea, vomiting, and/or fatigue for a few hours after surgery, but this is unusual. Most children are recovered by the time they leave the hospital or surgery center. Your child should be able to progress to a normal diet the day following surgery.

- Your child may be prescribed ear drops after surgery. These are meant to keep the tubes clear and help reduce inflammation. If, however, these drops cause a burning sensation, you may stop use at that time.

- The patient may experience a certain amount of pulsation, popping, clicking, and other sounds in the ear. A feeling of fullness or occasional sharp pain are not unusual in the early postopertive period. Tylenol should be sufficient for any discomfort.

WHAT ARE SOME REASONS TO CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR AFTER SURGERY?

- Nausea, vomiting and/or fatigue may occur for a few hours after surgery. However, if the nausea or vomiting lasts for more than 24 hours, you should contact your doctor.

- Drainage of middle ear fluid may be seen for two to three days following surgery. This fluid can be clear, reddish, or bloody. However, if this drainage continues after the ear drops have been discontinued, your doctor should be contacted.

- Some fussiness and/or a low grade fever (99 - 101F) may be noted after surgery. But if this fever lasts into the next day or exceeds 101 F (38 C), please contact your doctor.

- Tubes will prevent ear infections from developing most of the time, but 25% of children (35% of children in day care) with tubes will get an infection. Drainage from the ear will usually indicate an infection and needs to be evaluated.