3 Things That May Prolong Recovery After Deviated Septum Surgery

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A deviated septum refers to an abnormal development or division of the cartilage in the cavity of the nose. While it can sometimes be asymptomatic, it may lead to difficulty breathing, facial pain, nosebleeds, and in certain cases, complete obstruction of the nostrils.

Children's plastic surgery can repair a deviated septum, and while most patients enjoy an event-free recovery, there are certain things that may lead to complications following deviated septum surgery. Here are three things that may prolong recovery after your child has nasal plastic surgery, and what you can do about them:

Allergies

Allergies and chronic sinusitis can prolong your child's recovery time after undergoing surgery for a deviated septum. It is essential that nasal inflammation be kept to a minimum after surgery; however, allergies and sinus conditions can lead to a chronic state of nasal cavity swelling.

To keep inflammation at a minimum, talk to your child's allergist about treatment options that will not interfere with the plastic surgeon's post-operative instructions. If your child is allergic to your dog, make sure that the animal is brushed and bathed before your child returns home from the hospital after his or her surgery, and if seasonal allergies cause your child to become congested, keep your doors and windows closed when ragweed, mold, and pollen counts at at their highest.

Acid Reflux Disease

Acid reflux disease can also heighten the risk for complications following your child's surgery. When stomach acid rises into the upper digestive tract and into the throat, it can affect your child's sinus cavity. Stomach acid is very irritating to the delicate mucus membranes of the nasal lining, and when acid reflux symptoms are severe, the lining of nose can become swollen. This can adversely affect the surgical site inside the nasal cavity and in certain cases lead to infection. 

If your child has been diagnosed with acid reflux disease, follow the pediatrician's instructions on how to diminish symptoms. It may also help to raise the head of the bed so when your child sleeps, gravity will help keep stomach acid from reaching the throat.

Swollen Tonsils And Adenoids

When your child's tonsils and adenoids are chronically inflamed, it can lead to breathing problems and nasal congestion. This, in conjunction with deviated septum surgery, can cause severe nasal obstruction and difficulty breathing. Before your child has deviated septum or other nasal surgery, have the pediatrician evaluate the condition of his or her tonsils and adenoids.

Treatment of swollen tonsil and adenoid tissue may be necessary prior to undergoing nasal plastic surgery to help reduce the risk of breathing problems post-operatively. If the tonsils and adenoids are severe swollen, the surgeon may want to remove them prior to scheduling deviated septum surgery. 

If your child is facing plastic surgery and has any of the above conditions, work with both the pediatrician and the plastic surgeon to develop a comprehensive treatment plant to help ensure a favorable recovery. To learn more, contact a medical center like Shriners Hospitals for Children – Cincinnati.


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