What is cleft lip and palate? What is glue ear? Patient stories Tests and procedures Consent

 

Some operations narrow the airway a great deal. Indeed, this may be required to give your child a better speech result.

 

In some cases the airway may need to be held open by a temporary device called a nasopharyngeal airway (NPA).

 

 

The tube goes from the nose to the back of the throat and keeps the tongue from blocking the airway and so allows your child to breathe easily. The tube usually stays in for 48 hours and will need to be kept open by suctioning regularly by the nursing staff on the ward.

 

It will be taken out by the anaesthetist – this is not a painful process.

 

Often children don't feel like feeding until the NPA is out. In the meantime they are fed with fluids through an intravenous line.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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