Adenoidectomy

Details of the condition

This is a day procedure
Return to school or kindy is usually possible 2-3 days postoperatively
Some kids have a degree of nose, throat or neck pain up to 1 week, meaning their return to normal activity may be delayed.
Some kids develop a postoperative
fever in the first few days. This is more common if there was a lot of thick, green mucus associated with the adenoids at the time of surgery.
If your child appears unwell with a fever, please call our office.
- It is sometimes worth seeing the local doctor to ensure that there is not a chest infection.
- If your child has a fever which is not settling within a day or two, if there is a moist cough, or if your GP feels there are signs of a chest infection, oral antibiotics such as Augmentin Duo 400 will usually settle things quickly.
- If your child is particularly unwell, you should take them to the local emergency department for assessment.

Pain relief is usually not required.
If it is, doses of paracetamol (Panadol) can be laternated with a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory (eg Nurofen)

The nose will usually have some minor bleeding.
A small amount of ooze requiring dabbing with a tissue, or the use of a bolster (a gauze secured under the nostrils).
If bleeding is more severe (dripping from the nose, or swallowing blood), you should take your child to the emergency department.
The nose will sometimes be blocked (sometimes more than before surgery) for a period of up to 4 weeks.
This relates to crust forming over the turbinates as they heal.
The removal of crust is accelerated with the use of salt water spray such as FESS® Original Nasal Spray, Sterimar or Neilmed nasamist, followed by nose blowing.
Spray can be used, and nose blowing commenced several times per day, commencing on the first postoperative day.

This is usually at 2 weeks.
It is sometimes too early to see the full result at that stage.
If there is still blockage realted to crust, a further review 4-6 weeks down the track is required
We need to formaulate a long term plan, consider any contributing allergy, and work out if there is an ongoing requirement such as nasal spray to get the best possible result.
Coblation improves the nose for most people, but might not give perfect results in the most severe cases of allergy.
If the nose is still blocked, or if there is a recurrence of obstruction (usually > 2 years) a further review is appropriate, as there is nearly always more that can be done to improve the situation.