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Homecare after Tympanoplasty

Definition/Explanation:

Tympanoplasty (tim' pan o plas' te) is a type of ear surgery. This surgery is designed to rebuild the eardrum and to help your child hear better. Mastoidectomy (mas-toid-ek-te-me) is another type of ear surgery. As a part of this surgery, unhealthy bone and tissue is taken from the ear. These surgeries may be done apart or at the same time.

Care/What to Expect:

1. Nausea. An upset stomach is common after ear surgery. When your child is no longer nauseated, try clear liquids in small amounts such as: Kool-Aid, soft drinks, popsicles, water, Gatorade, apple juice, or Jell-O. If clear liquids are tolerated, you may continue with a light diet after one hour. In several hours if the light diet has been tolerated, a regular diet can be resumed.
2. There may be drainage of fluid from inside the ear after surgery. The drainage may be clear, pink, or bloody. It may last for 2-3 weeks. Call the office nurse if the drainage develops an odor.
3. There may be a dressing over the incision. It may be a small piece of gauze and tape over the area. It could also be a larger dressing. Keep the dressing dry unless otherwise directed by the doctor. You can usually remove the dressing the day after surgery.
4. There may be a feeling of fullness in the ear. The ear may have popping sounds during the healing period. This is normal.
5. Water should be kept out of the ear until it is healed. Place a cotton ball saturated with Vaseline in the ear when washing hair.
6. DO NOT BLOW THE NOSE FOR TWO WEEKS AFTER SURGERY.
7. Try to sneeze with the mouth open.
8. Hearing may not improve until 8-12 weeks after the surgery. Hearing will be tested at that time.
9. The child will need to be seen one or two weeks after the surgery. If there are problems before that time, call the office.
10. There may be some pain after surgery. Give Tylenol every four hours or prescription medicine as directed for pain. Do not give more than 5 doses in 24 hours.

Incision Care:

There may be drainage from the incision for about ten days after surgery. The drainage may be bloody or watery. If this happens, tape a piece of gauze behind the ear and call the office to see if a follow up is needed.

After the dressing comes off, the incision needs to be cleaned. Clean the incision area two to three times a day. To do this, use a mixture of 1/2 Hydrogen Peroxide and 1/2 water on a Q-tip. Apply antibiotic ointment to the incision area after cleaning.

When to Call the Doctor:

• If the ear drainage develops an odor.
• If your child gets sick to his/her stomach more than 3 times after you get home.
• If the dressing becomes covered or full with drainage.
• If marked swelling develops behind the ear.
• If there is bloody or watery drainage from the incision area.

For Questions or Emergency Care:
Call the office at 601-984-5160. You may need to speak with the doctor on-call.

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