Notice
Road and parking lot construction in Madison, Wis. may result in travel delays and route changes to UW Health clinic and hospital locations. Please plan accordingly.Read more
Road and parking lot construction in Madison, Wis. may result in travel delays and route changes to UW Health clinic and hospital locations. Please plan accordingly.Read more
This handout will tell you how to care for your child at home after neck surgery.
Your child may have nausea from the anesthesia.
Your child will have a small neck incision. There may be a drain in the neck for 1-2 days. If there is, your child will be kept overnight in the hospital.
Keep the neck area dry for 48 hours. After 48 hours, just lightly pat the skin to clean. Do not scrub.
Start with clear liquids and slowly move to solid foods. If your child still has nausea, start over with clear liquids and slowly advance.
Give acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen for pain relief or fever as needed.
No sports, swimming, or heavy exercise or lifting for the next 14 days.
A follow up visit will be scheduled in about 1-2 weeks after surgery.
Signs of infection:
o redness
o swelling
o soreness
o warmth
o pus-like drainage
Fever over 102 F
Nausea or vomiting
Pain not controlled by pain medicine
Trouble breathing or swallowing
Pediatric Otolaryngology (ENT) Clinic
Weekdays, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
(608) 263-6420, option 3
After hours and weekends, this number will give you the paging operator. Ask for the Otolaryngology (ENT) doctor on call. Give 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.