Discharge Instructions for Mastoidectomy

You had a procedure called mastoidectomy. This surgery removes the mastoid bone, a bone you can feel behind the ear. Your health care provider may do this procedure if your mastoid bone is infected or to remove growths from the middle ear. Here’s what you need to know about home care after surgery.

What to expect

• Expect a small amount of drainage from the ear.

• Don’t worry if the skin of your outer ear is numb. This is a result of the surgery. The feeling should return within a few months.

Ear and incision care

• Keep your head slightly raised (elevated) for the first 24 hours after you go home.

• Don't do anything that makes your ears pop. Don’t blow your nose or breathe out with your nose held closed.

• Sneeze with your mouth open.

• Shower as needed, starting 3 days after your surgery, or as directed by your health care provider. You may allow water to run across any outside wounds, but don’t scrub them.

• Keep the ear dry. You can place a cotton ball dabbed with a small amount of petroleum jelly in the outer ear to keep water out during a bath or shower.

• Take your medicine exactly as directed.

Activity

• Don't do any activities that include heavy lifting and straining.

• Get your health care provider’s approval before flying in a plane or swimming.

• Ask your provider when you may go back to work. There may be special considerations depending on the type of work you do.

Follow-up care

Make follow-up appointments as directed by our staff. Your ear has special packing material in it. Parts of this material may need to be removed at specific times.

When to call your doctor

Contact your health care provider right away if:

• There's more redness or swelling around the ear.

• You feel dizzy or disoriented.

• Foul-smelling drainage is coming from the ear or the incision.

• You have a persistent headache.

• You have double vision or blurred vision.

• You have a fever of 100.4°F ( 38°C) or higher, or as directed by your health care provider.

• You are bleeding bright red blood.

• You have trouble swallowing.

• You have facial droop.