Care After Cochlear Implant Surgery

After the surgery, if your child has any of the following:

• A fever greater than 101° F (38° C)
• Excessive ear pain
• Drainage from their ear if your child does not have ear tubes
• Swelling near the incision or behind the ear
• Dizziness (vertigo) lasting longer than 3 weeks after surgery
• Bleeding that does not stop with a pressure bandage
• Excessive pain that does not go away with pain medicine
• Nausea or vomiting that does not go away

Call the Otolaryngology department at 206-987-2105 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For questions after hours, weekends or holidays, call 206-987-2000, and ask the operator to page the Otolaryngology doctor on call.

• We will give your child general anesthesia for this procedure, so they will be fully asleep. General anesthesia can be liquid medicine in an IV (intravenous or into a vein) tube or a gas your child will breathe in.
• We will place a small device called a cochlear implant in their skull behind the ear. We will also insert a tiny wire into their inner ear.
• The surgery takes up to 2 to 3 hours for one side.
• Some children need to stay overnight in the hospital, but others can go home the same day. The surgeon will discuss this with you before scheduling the surgery.

• Your child will have a bandage over their ear after their surgery.
• If your child was sent home with a bandage, keep it on for 2 to 3 days.
• If your child was sent home with a headband, please use for 1 week, and remove as needed for incision care and bathing. Your child may wear it longer for comfort while they sleep.

• Keep the incision dry and covered for 72 hours
• For cleaning:
  
  • Wash your hands well.
  • Use soap and water gently and pat dry.
  • No routine antibiotic ointment is needed.

• Your child should be able to begin to eat and drink the evening after their surgery.
• Offer them light foods that are easy to digest.

• After a surgery your child is likely to have some pain and discomfort.
• We partner with you and your child to prevent and relieve pain as completely as possible. You know your child best.
• No matter the level of your child’s pain, believe they are hurting and respond right away.
• In addition to medicine prescribed for pain, we will work with you to create a plan that encourages coping activities to treat pain and provide support. Check with your healthcare provider first before giving any other type of medicine to your child. Help your child get better, faster with good pain treatment.

• Your child may go back to light daily activity 2 to 3 days after their surgery.
• No school or day care for 1 week.
• No sports or PE (physical education) class for 2 weeks.

• Please do not bathe, shower or wash your child’s hair for 72 hours after leaving the hospital.