Recovery guide
Thyroglossal Duct Cyst Surgery Recovery Guide
Quick answer: After thyroglossal duct cyst surgery, expect soreness at the front of the neck and mild oozing. Remove the gauze dressing and you may shower after 24 hours, and sleep with your head raised for 72 hours. If a drain was placed, empty it and record the amount every 8 hours until it comes out at your first visit. Avoid heavy lifting for 2 weeks and travel for 1 week.
What should I expect?
- Pain and soreness around the incision and the front of the neck.
- Mild oozing from around the incision.
How do I care for a drain?
- You may go home with a drain. It is removed at your first post-op visit.
- Before you go home, the nurse will show you how to empty the drain and write down the amount. Empty it and record the amount every 8 hours, and bring the record to your visit.
How do I care for the incision?
- Remove the gauze dressing 24 hours after surgery.
- You may shower 24 hours after surgery. Let warm, soapy water run over the incision. Do not scrub it.
- Do not soak the incision in a bath, pool or hot tub.
- Sleep with your head raised on an extra pillow or two for 72 hours.
How should I manage pain?
- Pain can usually be controlled with over-the-counter acetaminophen (Tylenol) and either ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve), taken as directed on the bottle. For children, use the weight-based doses below.
- If we prescribed a stronger (narcotic) pain medicine, use it only for pain the over-the-counter medicines do not control.
Children (liquid medicine, dosed by weight)
Dose by your child’s weight, not age: about 10 to 15 mg of acetaminophen and 5 to 10 mg of ibuprofen per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of body weight per dose. Give acetaminophen every 4 to 6 hours (no more than 5 doses in 24 hours) and ibuprofen every 6 to 8 hours (no more than 4 doses in 24 hours). The table shows doses of children’s liquid medicine for common weights; measure with the syringe or cup that comes with the medicine.
| Child’s weight | Children’s acetaminophen (160 mg per 5 mL) | Children’s ibuprofen (100 mg per 5 mL) |
|---|---|---|
| 24 to 35 lb | 5 mL (160 mg) | 5 mL (100 mg) |
| 36 to 47 lb | 7.5 mL (240 mg) | 7.5 mL (150 mg) |
| 48 to 59 lb | 10 mL (320 mg) | 10 mL (200 mg) |
| 60 to 71 lb | 12.5 mL (400 mg) | 12.5 mL (250 mg) |
| 72 to 95 lb | 15 mL (480 mg) | 15 mL (300 mg) |
- Check the strength on the box. These amounts are only for the strengths shown. Infants’ ibuprofen drops are stronger, so do not use these amounts with them.
- The per-kilogram doses are the ranges in the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery tonsillectomy guideline.
Medicine safety for children
- Do not give aspirin to children.
- Do not give codeine or tramadol to a child under 12. They can dangerously slow a child’s breathing, and the FDA warns against this use. For anyone under 18, ask us before using either one.
- Ask your pharmacist if your child takes other medicines or has other health conditions.
When can I get back to normal?
- No heavy lifting or intense exercise for 2 weeks.
- No flying or travel until 1 week after surgery.
When should I call?
Call us for
- A fever over 101°F that does not go away
- Pain that gets worse or becomes severe
- An incision that keeps draining, or redness around it that is getting worse
- A new lump in the middle of the neck, even weeks or months later
Call 911 or go to the ER for
Swelling in the neck that is quickly getting bigger or feels tight, especially with trouble breathing, trouble swallowing or a change in your voice. Call 911 rather than waiting to reach us.
Austin 512-339-4040 · Lakeway 512-682-4798 · Marble Falls 830-992-2830
Questions patients ask
Remove the gauze dressing and you may shower 24 hours after surgery. Let warm, soapy water run over the incision without scrubbing it, and do not soak it.
If a drain was placed, it is removed at your first post-op visit. Until then, empty it and record the amount every 8 hours.
Avoid heavy lifting and intense exercise for 2 weeks, and do not fly or travel until 1 week after surgery.
Rarely. If you notice a new lump in the middle of your neck, even weeks or months after surgery, call us so we can check it.
This guide is for educational purposes only and does not replace an in-person evaluation. If your surgeon gave you different instructions, follow theirs.
Full guide: capitalent.com/thyroglossal-duct-cyst-recovery.html