Otitis media is a common condition in otolaryngology, and the vast majority of patients require surgical treatment. Patients often feel puzzled or worried because they do not understand some of the phenomena that occur after surgery. Therefore, I would like to summarize some questions that patients often ask after surgery, hoping to help you eliminate your worries and spend your short postoperative life positively and optimistically.
I. What uncomfortable symptoms will occur after surgery?
1. It is a normal phenomenon to have the feeling of water flowing in the ear canal or to have “whirring tinnitus” that is consistent with the pulse rate after surgery.
This is because doctors often use gelatin sponges to fill the external ear canal at the end of the surgery. The purpose of this is to hold the graft and the flap in place. The gelatin sponge is somewhat similar to sticky glue, so most patients will feel a sensation of running water in the ear canal or a whirring tinnitus in the ear after surgery.
2. Itchy wound or intermittent ant-bite like pain is also a normal phenomenon.
This is because the incision in the ear will have an ant bite like intermittent pain or itchiness during the healing process.
3. If you have any of the following conditions, you should tell your treating doctor or go to the hospital as soon as possible for a follow-up consultation, and the doctor will make a diagnosis and treatment as appropriate.
(1) Persistent tinnitus after surgery or tinnitus that is worse than before surgery.
(2) Persistent headache and vertigo after surgery.
(3) postoperative herpes in one corner of the mouth or around the ear, pain at the root of the ear, and in severe cases facial palsy (inability to close one eyelid completely when closing the eye, leakage of food from the corner of the mouth when eating on one side)
(4) Pain in the wound, and this pain is progressively worse.
(5) Postoperative exudate from the ear opening gradually increases instead of decreasing day by day, and even the incision shows signs of infection such as redness and swelling.
II. Details of postoperative life.
1. Pay attention to rest after surgery, avoid staying up late and transitional fatigue; maintain a positive and optimistic state of mind, avoid anxiety and excessive worry.
2. Post-operative diet.
Middle ear surgery is a minimally invasive procedure, and the wound will heal quickly without the need for dietary supplements. It is worth noting that it takes some time for the gastrointestinal motility to recover after general anesthesia surgery, therefore, you can eat soft food that is easy to digest after surgery.
3.Postoperative sleeping position: pay attention to avoid rapid and vigorous head movement or vibration.
(1) Patients who have undergone hearing reconstruction surgery need to rest in bed from the first to the third day after surgery. You can slowly change your position in bed, never lie flat in bed without moving.
(2) On the 14th day after surgery, after the stitches are removed and the intra-ear filling is withdrawn, you may lie on your side to facilitate the drainage of the exudate from the ear. Since a small number of patients experience a temporary loss of sensation in the auricular skin (the sensation in the auricular skin will return to normal around 6 months after surgery), please be careful not to crush the auricle on the operated side when lying on your side for a long time.
4. Do not smoke or drink alcohol after surgery; be careful to eat cold, spicy and stimulating food.
5.When washing and bathing after surgery, keep the ear dry and do not allow water to enter.
6. Do not use cotton swabs to clean the external ear canal without permission when the ear is uncomfortable after surgery; never insert tissues or cotton balls into the ear.
7. Pay special attention to the prevention of colds after surgery. If symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose and frequent sneezing occur, pay special attention to avoid blowing the nose with force; when coughing and sneezing, the mouth should be open.
8. In autumn and winter, the operated ear must be kept warm.
9. Avoid flying and lifting heavy objects within three months after surgery.