Pharyngeal Flap / Sphincter Pharyngoplasty Discharge Instructions
Following the instructions below after your child’s surgery will help prevent injury and promote healing for their pharyngeal flap/sphincter pharyngoplasty procedure.
Feeding
After surgery, feedings will begin with clear liquids and progress to a soft diet (ice cream, soup, eggs, mashed potatoes, etc.). It is very important that nothing hard be placed in your child’s mouth during the healing process. This includes straws, spoons, chips, candy or hard cookies.
When feeding, foods should be taken from the side of the spoon. Be careful not to insert the spoon into your child’s mouth where it may hurt the stitches. Liquids can be taken from a regular cup, but not a sippy cup.
Your child will remain on this diet until their doctor signs off on a regular diet. This usually takes about 4-6 weeks.
After each feeding, please ensure you rinse your child’s mouth with water. A solution of ½ strength mouthwash can be used. This solution is made by mixing equal amounts of mouthwash and water. Remember to brush your child’s teeth with a soft foam or soft bristle toothbrush starting the day after surgery.
Sleeping
Snoring is common after surgery and may continue for several months. It may help to raise the head of your child’s bed so that he or she is sleeping in an upright position (30-45 degrees). A humidifier at the bedside may also help with dry throat and snoring.
Follow-Up Care
Your child should return to see us two weeks following surgery. Post-op appointments can be made by calling 314-268-4010.
An appointment with speech therapy should be made two months following surgery. You can schedule an appointment by calling 314-577-5669.
Cleft palate and craniofacial team visits may resume three months after surgery. Please call our clinical nurse coordinator to schedule your team visit at 314-577-5368. At that time, it will be determined if further speech therapy is recommended.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call our clinical nurse coordinator at 314-577-5368. or the department of plastic surgery at 314-678-2171.