From the Research
No, copious rhinorrhea is not common 2 weeks post-adenoidectomy, and if present, it may indicate a complication or an underlying condition that needs to be addressed. By this point in the recovery process, most patients should be experiencing significantly improved nasal symptoms. While some mild nasal discharge may occur during the initial healing period (first 7-10 days), persistent heavy nasal discharge at the 2-week mark is unusual and may indicate a complication such as infection, allergic reaction, or cerebrospinal fluid leak (though this is rare) 1.
Possible Causes of Persistent Rhinorrhea
- Undiagnosed allergies
- Sinusitis
- Other nasal pathology that may have been masked by the adenoid hypertrophy prior to surgery
- Infection
- Allergic reaction
- Cerebrospinal fluid leak (rare)
If a patient is experiencing copious rhinorrhea 2 weeks after adenoidectomy, they should contact their surgeon promptly for evaluation. The adenoid tissue normally absorbs and processes nasal secretions, but after complete healing from adenoidectomy, the nasal passages should function normally without excessive discharge. It's also important to consider that adenoidectomy may be associated with increased long-term risks of respiratory, infectious, and allergic diseases, as suggested by a study published in JAMA Otolaryngology--Head & Neck Surgery 1.
Recommendations for Patients with Persistent Rhinorrhea
- Contact their surgeon promptly for evaluation
- Consider underlying conditions that may be contributing to the persistent rhinorrhea
- Follow-up with their surgeon to rule out any complications and to discuss further management options.
It's worth noting that the provided studies do not directly address the question of copious rhinorrhea after adenoidectomy, but they do provide information on the treatment of adenoid hypertrophy and the potential long-term risks associated with adenoidectomy 2, 3, 4, 5. However, the most recent and highest quality study 1 suggests that adenoidectomy may be associated with increased long-term risks, which is an important consideration in the management of patients with adenoid hypertrophy.