Recovering From Throat Surgery

Recovering from throat surgery such as tonsillectomy, uvuloplasty, and or base of tongue surgery can be excruciating. There is no pain therapy that is out of bounds. I give 12 mg Decadron intra operatively and generously inject 0.23% Marcaine with 1/200,000 epi into the operated on area.

Topically Gelclair can be very helpful. It forms a barrier (similar to but also superior to Carafate). Magic mouth rinse with topical anethestics or Numbing throat sprays (Chloraseptic) can be temporarily helpful.

I personally use 10 mg of ocycontin po q 12, Lortab Elixir, Motrin Elixir and Amoxacillin or Zithromax Elixir. A Medrol Dose pack can be utilziled. Toradol can also be helpful, although bleeding risk must be considered.