Dr. Burton's Post-Op Instructions for
Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

1. DO NOT use Motrin®, Advil®, or ibuprofen products in the 5 days before surgery through the 14 days after surgery due to the increased risk of bleeding. Use Tylenol with Codeine® or Lortab® every 4 hours, while awake, for moderate to severe pain. May alternate with Children's Tylenol® every 4 hours for mild pain. Prescriptions will not be refilled when the office is closed.
   
   
2. DIET: Start with clear liquids such as Gatorade, apple juice, Popsicles, and Jell-O. Advance to a normal diet as tolerated.
   
   
3. Encourage fluid intake to prevent dehydration and promote healing. Fluids prevent bleeding from the surgical site and prevent infection. Dehydration is the most common cause of low-grade fevers in children postoperatively.
   
   
4. Use Afrin® nose spray, 2 puffs each nostril 2 times a day for the first 3 days after surgery. After the 3rd post-operative day, stop Afrin® and start nasal steroid spray and salt water nasal washes as directed below.
   
   
5. Start salt water (saline) nasal washes after Afrin® is completed.
   
   
   1. Recipe: 1 liter/quart distilled water
      1 - 3 heaping tsp. pure salt (sea, canning, pickling, rock)
      1 heaping tsp. baking soda
      
      
   2. Use medical syringe (5 or 10 ccs) or bulb syringe. Draw up 5 ccs of saline solution into the medical syringe and flush into each nostril in a pulsing fashion twice daily. Nasal steroids should be applied after saline nasal rinses, not before.
      
      
6. Continue taking antibiotics for 3 weeks after surgery, then taper dose as per Dr. Burton's instructions. Call our office for fever > 102º F.
   
   
7. Second stage sinus surgery is performed 2 weeks after the first surgery.
   
   
8. Restrict any strenuous activity that may increase your child's heart rate or blood pressure for 1 week after 1st stage sinus surgery, and for 48 hours after 2nd stage sinus surgery. (Ex. running, jumping, bike riding, gymnastics, cheerleading, sports activities, swimming)
   
   
9. Expect drainage from the nose for 3 - 7 days after surgery. You may wipe drainage with a tissue. No nose blowing for 2 weeks after surgery.
   
   
10. Postoperative visits are scheduled 1 week after surgery.
    
    
11. Please call for any questions or concerns you may have regarding your child's status at (770) 953-1414.

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