This handout will tell you how to care for your child at home after a mastoidectomy.
What to Expect After Surgery
Your child may have a big dressing over their ear and head.
You can expect an incision behind or above the ear. Any stiches will be removed in 7-12 days.
Your child may have ear numbness that lasts for months.
There may be mild, blood-stained drainage from their ear.
They may have packing inside their ear canal.
They may have some taste changes for a short time.
A low-grade fever of up to 102°, is normal, for up to 7 days after surgery.
Your child may hear noises such as cracking or popping, this is normal.
It is common for a child to have headache pain. Treat with pain medicine as directed.
Keep the incision behind the ear dry for two days. After two days, clean the incision by rinsing and gently patting the skin. Avoid scrubbing.
Check the incision for any signs of infection:
warmth at site
Your child may have drainage from the ear for several weeks. Put a cotton ball in the outer ear to catch the drainage. Change the cotton ball as needed. Remove the cotton ball before using prescribed ear drops. Do not remove any packing inside the ear.
Keep water out of the ear until advised by your doctor. Use a cotton ball with lots of Vaseline ointment to seal ear when showering. Do not put their head under the bath water.
No sports, jogging, swimming, aerobics, heavy exercise or lifting over 25 pounds for 4 weeks.
No blowing the nose for 1 week. After 1 week, your child can gently blow it one side at a time to avoid pressure on the ears.
Your child should keep their mouth open when sneezing or coughing for one week.
Do not let your child lay flat in bed for 3 days after surgery. Use at least 2 pillows to raise their head 30º. Your child should not lay on the treated side until your doctor approves.
No air travel for about 6 weeks. Your doctor will let you know when you can travel by air.
No driving (if old enough) while taking any pain medicine.
When to Call
Bleeding that soaks a gauze dressing in 10 minutes or less
Pain that is not relieved by medicine
If packing comes of out of the ear
Significant changes in hearing
Weakness of the face (facial droop)
A fever over 102°
Any signs of infection
Who to Call
Pediatric Otolaryngology (ENT) Clinic
Monday-Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
(608) 263-6420, option 3
After clinic hours, weekends, and holidays, the number above will give you the paging operator. Ask for the ENT doctor on-call. Leave your name and phone number with the area code. The doctor will call you back
The toll-free number is 1-800-323-8942.
If you are a patient receiving care at UnityPoint – Meriter, Swedish American or a health system outside of UW Health, please use the phone numbers provided in your discharge instructions for any questions or concerns.