EAR, NOSE, & THROAT (ENT) SURGERY

Sinus Surgery

  • Recovery: You will wake up in the recovery room usually with some packing in the nose to prevent early post-operative bleeding. Your nose may feel blocked, and some blood and crusted mucous around the area is normal.

  • Pain: Most patient wake up in minimal pain due to local anaesthetic placed in the nose during your surgery. However, this will wear off several hours after your surgery. For this reason, I start all patients on regular paracetamol every 6 hours +/- regular anti-inflammatory every 8 hours (depending on your type of surgery).

  • I will also provide a prescription for stronger pain relief tablets, should you need them in addition to your regular paracetamol +/- anti-inflammatory.

  • In discussion with your surgeon, I will usually prescribe you with appropriate Nasal wash and/or spray for your post-operative care.

 

Tonsil Surgery

  • Recovery: You will wake up in the recovery room, initially with a numb throat due to local anaesthetic placed around the surgical site. Coughing up a little bit of blood is normal. Nausea and mild vomiting may occur due to a combination of the pain medication and palate irritation, but this can be treated readily with medications by your recovery nurse.

  • Pain: The throat pain will intensify several hours after your surgery, once the local anaesthetic wears off. Some patients may also experience ‘referred’ ear pain (this is the sensation of pain in the ear, that originates from the throat. There is no trauma to the ear). For this reason, I start all patients on regular paracetamol every 6 hours +/- regular anti-inflammatory every 8 hours (in consultation with your surgeon).

  • I will also provide a prescription for stronger pain relief tablets, should you need them in addition to your regular paracetamol +/- anti-inflammatory.

 

Ear Surgery

  • From an anaesthetic point of view, recovery from ear surgery is usually rapid and unremarkable. These operations are usually not associated with significant pain, and the operative site is easily made numb with a local anaesthetic injection given during your operation.

  • Patients getting ear surgery are at slightly higher risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting. It is important you let myself or your recovery nurse know early, so that we can treat this with appropriate medication.

  • In discussion with your surgeon, I will usually prescribe you with appropriate ear drops for your post-operative care.