General Instructions

  • Following Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (an operation to enlarge the sinus openings), absorbable packing may be placed inside the nose which may need to be removed at your first post-operative visit.
  • It is normal to have some bloody drainage from the nose; this will gradually decrease over the first few weeks after surgery.
  • A “moustache” dressing is used to collect the drainage from the nose. You may change the dressing as needed.

Precautions

  • Avoid blowing the nose, especially in the first 24 hours.
  • Try to sneeze through the mouth instead of the nose.
  • Call our office if there is any bright red bleeding, vomiting of blood clots, or spitting out bright red blood for a prolonged period of time.

Medications

  • Oxymetazoline (Afrin®, Dristan®, Genasal®) may be used – 1 spray each nostril twice daily for the first 3 days following surgery to reduce the amount of bloody nasal discharge and congestion.
  • Normal saline (Ocean®, Ayr®) nasal sprays may be used to moisturize and irrigate the nasal passages. Administer 1-2 sprays to each nostril 3 to 4 times daily.
  • Antibiotics are used as needed.

Nasal Irrigations

  • Your child may be instructed to begin nasal saline irrigations. This is a very important part of the recovery process. The nasal saline helps to decrease the packing and blood retained in the nasal cavity, making the healing process smoother. The irrigations are performed with a bulb syringe, also used to clear an infant’s nose, and may be purchased at the drug store. The nasal saline may be purchased pre-packaged at the drug store, or a home solution may be prepared using the following: 1 teaspoon salt per quart of distilled water. The patient should irrigate the nose by filling the bulb syringe with the saline, and leaning over the sink with the head forward, gently flush the nasal cavity. Repeat several times. Keep the head forward to keep the fluids from running down the throat.

Postoperative Appointment

  • Your child needs an appointment 7 to 10 days following surgery. At this appointment, we may clean any remaining packing out of your child’s nose.