Pharyngoplasty/Pharyngeal Flap Post-OperativeAppearanceAfter pharyngoplasty, there will be sutures on the back of the child's throat (Pharynx) that extends to the roof of the mouth. You will not be able to see these from the outside. Your child may have some red drainage from his nose and mouth. SpeechThis procedure has been done to improve the function of the palate in speech. Immediately after the operation, your child may not speak due to pain. After this operation, speech therapy is still needed to change speech habits, which have been used over time and will not automatically change because of the operation. Wound CareThe wounds inside your child's mouth require no special care. If there is a complaint of pain that gets worse over time instead of better, if there is swelling or foul smelling drainage from the mouth, there may be a wound infection and you should call the number listed below. PainYour child will have throat pain, may have a stiff neck and may be irritable due to hunger. By the time he is ready to go home from the hospital, his pain should be well-controlled on oral pain medications such as Tylenol with codeine, or Tylenol alone. Cepacol throat spray and cold liquids may provide the child with some relief. DietYour child should be on a soft diet for about one week to protect the repair and because his throat will be sore. Examples of soft food are mashed potatoes, yogurt, and ice cream. Nothing hard (such as feeding utensils and popsicle sticks) should be placed in the mouth. Small, frequent snacks may be necessary for the first couple of days. Follow meals and snacks with water to clean the inside of the mouth. When To CallCall if you observe signs of a wound infection, if your child starts to run a fever (over 101.5 F), or if you have any questions or concerns regarding his progress. Return to ClinicYou will be given an appointment to return to the clinic about one week after discharge. If you are unable to keep the appointment, please call and reschedule. For medical questions, please call:
|
