Septoplasty

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Risks

IF YOU'RE HEADING FOR THE HOSPITAL...

Before You Go

• The Week Before Surgery:
• You'll probably need to stop taking aspirin and ibuprofen; the doctor will tell you when. If you're taking aspirin for your heart, don't stop without asking the doctor first. Also ask whether you can take any over-the-counter medicines.
• Your doctor will tell you whether you need to have blood drawn.
• The Night Before Surgery:
• Your physician may suggest you take a sleeping pill.
• Just before surgery, you should not eat or drink anything (even water). Your doctor will tell you when to begin fasting.

When You Arrive

• Check with your doctor before taking insulin, diabetes pills, blood pressure medicine, heart pills, or any other medication on the day of surgery.
• Do not wear contact lenses to the hospital. You may wear glasses.

What to Expect While You're There

• Taking Vital Signs: These include your temperature, blood pressure, pulse (counting your heartbeats), and respirations (counting your breaths). A stethoscope is used to listen to your heart and lungs. Your blood pressure is taken by wrapping a cuff around your arm.
• Blood Tests: You may need blood taken for tests. It can be drawn from a vein in your hand or from the bend in your elbow. Several samples may be needed.
• Chest X-ray: The doctor will check this picture of your lungs and heart to make sure they can handle the stress of surgery.
• Heart Monitor: (Also called an electrocardiogram [e-LEK-tro-KAR-di-o-gram] or EKG). Typically, three to five sticky pads are placed on different parts of your body. Each pad has a wire that is hooked to a TV-type screen or to a small portable box (telemetry unit) that shows a tracing of each heartbeat.
• IV: A tube placed in your vein for giving medicine or liquids. It will be capped or have tubing connected to it.
• Pulse Oximeter: With a little clip connected to your ear, finger, or toe, this machine measures the oxygen in your blood.
• Anesthesia: Septoplasty can be performed under general anesthesia, which puts you into a deep sleep, or with the aid of a local pain-killer, which renders the area numb but leaves you awake.
• Local Anesthesia: If you choose a local pain-killing shot, you may still feel pressure or pushing during the operation.
• General Anesthesia: For this approach, you'll be knocked out with medicine given either as a liquid in your IV or as a gas through a face mask or endotracheal tube in your mouth and throat.

After Surgery

• You will have a drip pad under your nose. You may also have special packing inside to help stop bleeding. The doctor may place a cast over the top of your nose.
• No matter what type of anesthesia you've taken, you will not be able to drive yourself home.

After You Leave

• For pain or swelling, you may put ice in a plastic bag, cover it with a towel, and place this over your nose for 15 to 20 minutes out of every hour as long as necessary. Do not sleep on the ice pack. Treatment with ice is most effective when started right after surgery and used for 24 to 48 hours.
• Use a cool-mist humidifier to keep your nose moist and reduce swelling.
• Sleeping with your head elevated on 3 to 4 pillows will also keep the swelling down.
• Change the drip pad under your nose whenever it becomes soaked with blood. This bleeding is normal, but should subside a little more each day.
• To keep bleeding to a minimum:
  • Do not blow your nose. Use a tissue to dab up any blood. If you have to sneeze, keep your mouth open.
  • Do not lift anything heavy or do vigorous exercise until your doctor tells you it's OK.
  • Do not strain during bowel movements.
  • Do not pick your nose.
• If you've been given a cast, keep it dry. If you have splints, resist the temptation to play with them.
• You may be given an infection-fighting antibiotic ointment to put in your nose. The doctor may also prescribe steroids to reduce swelling in the nose.
• Always take your medicine exactly as directed. If it doesn't seem to help, let the doctor know, but keep taking it until told otherwise. If you've been prescribed antibiotics, be sure to use them up, even if you're feeling better. If a medicine makes you drowsy, avoid driving or using dangerous machinery.

Call Your Doctor If...

• The blood coming from your nose is bright, cherry red, and you seem to be bleeding more than when you first went home.
• You develop itchy, swollen skin or a rash. You may be allergic to your medicine.

Seek Care Immediately If...

• You have trouble breathing.
• You start choking on your blood.

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