Post Op Information:
Pituitary or Skull Base Surgery
What To Expect
It is not uncommon to experience bloody and mucus discharge for 1-2 weeks after surgery.
Nasal congestion is normal after sinonasal surgery and will normally within 1-2 weeks. Smell and taste may be temporarily affected after surgery until the congestion settles down.
A slight ooze or short lived nose bleeds are not uncommon after surgery and can occur for the first 2 weeks. Most bleeds will self-resolve within 10-15 minutes with head elevation, ice over the nose, back of neck and in the mouth and pressure on the nostrils. If bleeding is severe or persists present to your closest emergency department for review.
Some people may experience headaches after skull base or pituitary surgery. We recommend taking regular Panadol with stronger pain relief prescribed for break through pain. AVOID aspirin, nurofen and advil.
Ribbon packing may be used if a CSF leak is encountered during surgery. This pack is normally removed in hospital on the ward 1 week after the procedure. All other packing will be dissolvable and dissolve with the sinus irrigations.
Dissolvable sutures may be used to close your septal incision. These stitches often unravel or extrude early. If you notice the stitch, do not pull on it but rather cut it flush with your skin.
You are likely to feel tired for several weeks after skull base surgery. This is not abnormal.
Avoid any nose blowing, strenuous exercise, heavy lifting and straining for 6 weeks after surgery.
Avoid hot food and drinks and hot showers for 1 week after surgery
Antibiotics are usually used for 10 days post-surgery. Please take all medications as prescribed.
FLO irrigations will aid recovery and nasal congestion. You will be instructed on when to commence the irrigations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xodfPieoUZU
We recommend rinsing with
- FLO CRS or FLO Sinus care dissolved in 200 ml of boiled water allowed to cool to room temperature
- 1 full bottle (200ml) each side of the nasal cavity 4x day until your first post-op visit ( 8 bottles/day)
- Irrigations should be forceful enough to dislodge any crusts, but should not be uncomfortable or painful. If you get ear fullness or pain on washing, decrease the volume and force of the wash.
Prof Psaltis typically recommends 2-6 weeks from work or school following endoscopic skull base surgery. Please avoid driving for this time period.
He usually sees you at 2 weeks and then 6-8 weeks post-surgery.
Please continue your nasal washes as instructed by Prof Psaltis during this time period. Flo Sachets can be purchased online or over the counter at most pharmacies.
At the first post-operative visit it is important that Professor Psaltis suctions out any of the clots or packing that may not have dissolved with the washing. This can cause some minor discomfort and so we recommend taking analgesia 30 minutes prior to your first post-operative appointment.
- Dr Psaltis will normally review you between 10-14 days after surgery .
- This visit will take 10-20 minutes and involves cleaning all the clots from the nose
- Take pain relief ( endone or panadeine forte) prior to this appointment to minimize discomfort
Present to the Nearest Emergency Room should you develop:
- Severe Bleeding lasting > 15-20 minutes
- Fever > 38.5 degrees chills, or shakes
- Eye Swelling/Reduced Vision
- Severe Nausea/Vomiting or light intolerance