Why earache after tonsillectomy

The Ear, Nose and Throat specialty there has been officially named the Department of Otolaryngology, a move that elevates the status of the university by ultimately attracting more residents who wish to continue their study in that special field. Joehassin Cordero, M. Copyright KCBD. All rights reserved. Skip to content. Local Listings. Latest Newscasts. Weather Cams. Send Us Your Weather Photos. Tonsillectomy is surgery to removal the tonsils.

It is performed by an ears, nose, and throat surgeon in the operating room while the patient is under general anesthesia. The tonsil is removed from a pocket leaving a small raw area which heals over weeks. The area remains very sensitive and mild to severe pain is typical for 10 to 14 days. The tonsil may be removed by itself or at the same time as the adenoids. Adenoidectomy is uncommon in adults but if any concerns are present the adenoid tissue may be removed also.

Most of the time patients can go home the same day. Risks of Surgery : Risks are uncommon and include, but are not limited to the following:. Anesthesia risks.

These are related to the process of general anesthesia are extremely rare, your child will be carefully monitored during the procedure. If you have a personal or family history of anesthesia related problems or a history of bleeding problems let your physician know. This can occur during or after the procedure. It may occur up to 10 days after surgery.

Frequently the bleeding stops on its own, sometimes it can be treated in the emergency room, but sometimes the patient will have to go back to the operating room for treatment especially if they are young. Since it is painful to swallow, sometimes patients will avoid drinking and become dehydrated. This may require a trip back into the ER or hospital and re-hydration with IV fluids.

Damage to the teeth, lips, and gums. Surgery is performed in the mouth and rarely the structures of the mouth can be injured from surgical instruments. Velopharyngeal insufficiency VPI. Normally the palate closes against the back of the throat to prevent food and fluids from entering the nasal cavity.

Occasionally after adenoidectomy, the palate has to readjust and patients may have temporary reflux of food and liquids into their nose. Permanent problems are very rare. Residual disease or recurrent problems. Occasionally problems that we are trying to treat persist. Starting immediately after surgery, patients may have fluids such as water or apple juice. Make an effort to drink every hour during waking hours for the first two days after surgery.

Paracetamol should be given regularly for the first 48 hours and then as required. If pain is not relieved by Paracetamol alone, Oxycodone can also be used. Oxycodone can be given every four to six hours, with a maximum of four doses per 24 hours. It is important for you and other carers to record the name of the medication, and the date and time you have given it to keep track of medication usage.

Do NOT give your child Aspirin for two weeks after the operation. For the first two hours after the operation, your child can have clear fluids water, cordial, iceblock. Children may refuse to drink fluids after the surgery because of throat pain but they must be encouraged to drink regularly half a cup every hour to avoid dehydration. Dehydration can lead to increased pain and also increase the chance of bleeding.

Two hours after returning to the ward your child can eat regular meals. During the first eight hours after surgery your child may eat without too much discomfort due to the local anaesthetic used in the surgery. Any food is better than none in the first few days.

Bad breath is a normal part of the healing process. Drinking plenty of water will help reduce the odour and teeth should be brushed as normal. Your child will need to stay home from school or childcare for two weeks and should avoid all sports and rough play. Encourage plenty of rest and quiet play or entertainment such as puzzles, reading and watching DVDs. A review of your child will be scheduled after the operation.

Minor bleeding of tonsillectomy scabs is normal as they fall off. There should only be a small amount of blood. The blood will also cause a metallic taste in your mouth. A wrapped ice pack placed over your neck, known as an ice collar, can help with pain and minor bleeding. Your doctor should provide you instructions with how much blood is too much. Call your surgeon right away if the blood is bright red.

You may need to go to the emergency room, especially if you or your child are vomiting or unable to keep down fluids, or if bleeding is more than minor. Bleeding can also occur prematurely when your scabs fall off too soon. You can detect this if you start bleeding from your mouth sooner than five days after surgery. Call your doctor or pediatrician right away if this is the case.

The scabs from tonsil removal fall off sometime between 5 to 10 days after surgery. The scabs usually start falling out in small pieces. The scabs can sometimes fall off without warning and are occasionally painful. A small amount of bleeding from your mouth is usually the first sign that your scabs have started to break up.

Typically, the first few days following a tonsillectomy are the most uncomfortable. However, people recover from surgery differently. Some individuals may continue to have pain up to 10 days after the procedure.

Your throat will be sore, and you may also have a headache or earache. Over-the-counter acetaminophen Tylenol can help reduce pain. Ask your doctor before using any medications for yourself or your child.

Talk to your doctor about taking ibuprofen Advil , as this can increase bleeding in some cases. Your doctor may also prescribe other pain medications.