What happens during tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy? Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (surgical removal of the tonsils and adenoids) is one of the most common major surgical procedures performed on children in the United States. About 400,000 surgeries are performed each year. The need for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy will be determined by your child's otolaryngologist and discussed with you. These surgeries are performed using general anesthesia and on an outpatient basis. This means that your child will have surgery and then go home the same day. Some children may be required to stay overnight, such as, but not limited to, children who: are not drinking well after surgery have other chronic diseases or problems with seizures have complications after surgery, such as bleeding are younger than three years of age Before the surgery, you will meet with some members of the healthcare team. The team includes: an otolaryngologist: a physician who specializes in the medical and surgical treatment of problems of the ear, nose, and throat. an anesthesiologist, who will administer your child’s anesthesia and will monitor him/her during surgery same-day surgery nurses, who will prepare your child for surgery operating room nurses, who will assist your child’s physicians during surgery nurses in the post-anesthesia care unit (formerly called the recovery room), who will care for your child as he/she emerges from general anesthesia Prior to surgery, your child’s anesthesiologist will perform a history and examination of your child and develop a plan of general anesthesia. The anesthesiologist will discuss this plan with you and you may ask him/her any questions you may have. During the surgery, your child’s otolaryngologist will remove your child's tonsils and adenoids through the mouth. There will be no cut on the skin. In most cases, after the surgery, your child will go to the post-anesthesia care unit where he/she will be monitored closely. After your child is fully awake and doing well, a nurse will bring your child back to the same-day surgery area. If everything is going well, you and your child will be able to go home. If your child is going to stay the night in the hospital, your child will be brought from the post-anesthesia care unit to his/her room. Usually, the parents are in the room to meet the child. Bleeding is a complication of this surgery and should be addressed immediately by the surgeon. If the bleeding is severe, your child may return to the operating room. What follow-up care is needed after tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy? The following are some of the instructions that may be given to you to help you care for your child: encourage fluid intake. provide pain medication, as prescribed. follow any dietary restrictions your physician recommends. no heavy or rough play for a duration of time recommended by the surgeon. What are the risks of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy? Any type of surgery poses a risk to a child. About two to three percent of children begin bleeding from the surgery within the first two weeks after the surgery and may require additional surgery. Some children may have a change in the sound of their speech due to the surgery. The following complications may occur: bleeding (may happen during surgery, immediately after surgery, or at home) dehydration (due to decreased fluid intake; if severe, fluids through an intravenous, or IV, catheter in the hospital may be necessary) fever difficulty breathing (swelling of the area around the surgery; may be life-threatening if not treated immediately) Pharyngitis and Tonsillitis Pharyngitis and tonsillitis are infections in the throat that cause inflammation. If the tonsils are primarily affected, it is called tonsillitis. If the throat is primarily affected, it is called pharyngitis. A child may have inflammation and infection of both the tonsils and the throat. This is called pharyngotonsillitis. These infections are spread by close contact with other individuals. Bacterial infections are more common during the winter. Viral infections are more common in summer and fall. Pharyngitis and tonsillitis are most commonly seen in children between the ages of six and eight. Children under age two rarely develop group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS), or strep throat. What causes pharyngitis and tonsillitis? There are many causes of infections in the throat. The following are the most common infectious agents: viruses: adenovirus influenza virus Epstein-Barr virus herpes simplex virus bacteria: group A beta - hemolytic streptococci (GABHS) Staphylococcus aureus Haemophilus influenzae Type B Neisseria gonorrhea (in adolescents) Mycoplasma fungal infections parasitic infections cigarette smoke (Cigarette smoke irritates the throat and can make it more susceptible to any of the above infections) What are the symptoms of pharyngitis and tonsillitis? The symptoms of pharyngitis and tonsillitis depend greatly on the cause of the infection and the person affected. For some children, the onset of symptoms may be quick; for others, symptom onset is slow. Each child may experience symptoms differently. Here are the most common: sore throat fever (either low grade or high) headache decrease in appetite not feeling well nausea vomiting stomach aches painful swallowing visible redness or drainage in the throat How do you diagnose pharyngitis and tonsillitis? In most cases, it is hard to distinguish between a viral sore throat and a strep throat (caused by GABHS) based on physical examination. It is important to know if the sore throat is caused by GABHS, since this requires antibiotic treatment to help prevent the complications associated with this bacteria. Most children who have the above symptoms will receive a strep test and throat culture to determine if it is an infection caused by GABHS. This usually involves a throat swab (called quick tests or rapid strep tests) in the physician's office. If the test is positive for GABHS, antibiotics will be prescribed. If it is negative, part of the throat swab will be kept for a throat culture. Within three days this will tell if there is any GABHS present. How do you treat pharyngitis and tonsillitis? Specific treatment for pharyngitis and tonsillitis will be determined by your child's physician based on: your child's age, overall health, and medical history extent of the condition cause of the condition your child's tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies expectations for the course of the condition your opinion or preference If bacteria is not the cause of the infection, then the treatment is focused on the comfort of your child. Antibiotics will not help treat viral sore throats. Treatment may include: acetaminophen (for pain) increased fluid intake throat lozenges antibiotics (if the cause of the infection is bacterial, not viral)
Map/Directions   •   Public Transportation Contact Us This site is for informational purposes only. Please consult with your physician before making any decisions about your healthcare. Copyright © 2006 Daniel Samadi, M.D., PC