Tonsillectomy

Overview:

Tonsillectomy is the surgical removal of inflamed or infected tonsils. It helps to resolve infections and reduce breathing problems. Tonsillectomy removes the problematic tonsils and gives relief to the patients. It is a simple procedure where the recovery is quick. This procedure can remove complete tonsils or only partial tonsils. 

Anatomy:

Tonsils are oval, fleshy masses of lymph nodes in the back of the throat. These are part of the body’s immune system. They are 2 in number one on each side. They function as the body’s defensive system by filtering the bacteria and viruses from the nose and mouth. They contain defense cells of the body helping in catching the microbes that pass through the mouth and nose. They are pink in color but when infected by microorganisms become red, swollen, and inflamed. 

Indications:

Tonsillectomy treats tonsillitis. Tonsillitis is infected and inflamed tonsils in children. It is rarely used in adults as the immune function of the tonsils subsides after puberty. It is used to treat:

• Severe tonsillitis that is frequently and chronically occurring. Tonsillitis is considered chronic and frequently occurring if there are at least:

7 episodes in a year

5 episodes in two consecutive years

3 episodes in three consecutive years

• Enlarged tonsils causing complications like breathing difficulties or disrupted breathing during sleep
• Tonsils that are frequently bleeding near the surface 
• Any rare tonsillar diseases 
• Bacterial tonsillitis that does not subside with antibiotics 
• Pus collected in the tonsils that do not subside with medications or drainage 
• Cancers of the tonsils 
• Severe soul smell from the breath due to debris in the tonsillar crevices 

Advantages:

Tonsillectomy has many advantages.

• It reduces infections and relieves symptoms
• It reduces breathing difficulties and apnea problems
• The quality of life improves

Before the procedure:

Before tonsillectomy, it is important to understand the necessity of the procedure by discussing it with the healthcare provider (HCP). Complete details regarding the medical, surgical, allergic, and medication history should be given to the HCP. A list of medications to be stopped and another list of medicines to be used before the procedure will be given. One has to undergo a few blood tests to understand the current medical condition. 

Advanced imaging studies like MRI or CT will also be taken to assess the extent of the tonsillar damage. A sleep study called polysomnography may also be advised to assess obstructive sleep apnea and other airway obstructions. A tonsillectomy will be done on an empty stomach under anesthesia. Hence it is necessary to refrain from eating anything 8-12 hours before the procedure. Inform the healthcare provider of any previous allergies to anesthesia. 

During the procedure:

Tonsillectomy removes infected tonsils. It can be done as an outpatient procedure or with an overnight stay. The surgery is done under general anesthesia and the individual undergoing surgery is asked about details regarding their name and purpose of the surgery. 

Various techniques can be used to remove tonsils. They can be cut with a scalpel and blade or by using high-energy heat or sound waves. These destroy the tissue and also control bleeding. 

• Electrocautery uses heat energy to destroy the tonsillar tissue. It also has the advantage of controlling the bleeding. 
• Cold knife dissection is the traditional method of doing tonsillectomy using a surgical knife called a scalpel and blade to remove the tonsils. Electrocautery or suturing can be used to control bleeding.  
• Snare tonsillectomy is a cold technique of tonsillectomy. Using a special instrument called the snare the tonsillar tissue is removed with the thin wire loop at its tip. Bleeding is controlled by placing the snare around the remaining tonsils and clamping it. 
• A harmonic scalpel uses ultrasonic vibrations. These vibrations destroy the tonsillar tissue and also control bleeding simultaneously. 
• Radiofrequency ablation, carbon dioxide lasers, and microdebriders are other methods that can be employed to remove the tonsillar tissue. 

After the procedure:

An individual is brought to the recovery room and monitored till the vitals stabilize. Medications are given to ward off pain and infection. The entire tonsillectomy procedure takes about 20-30 minutes. Discharge from the hospital depends on the recovery from the anesthesia, the age of the individual, and any complications. It takes at least two weeks to recover from tonsillectomy depending on the age of the individual, the type of tonsillectomy, and the body’s healing capability.  

Instructions:

• Take medications regularly as prescribed
• Drink plenty of fluids like water and ice pops to avoid dehydration
• Bland foods that are easy to swallow should be taken. Cold foods can be given if they are tolerable. Spicy foods should be avoided. 
• Take as much rest as possible 
• Avoid strenuous exercises for at least 2 weeks after the surgery

Effectiveness: 

Tonsillectomies are effective in treating recurrent bacterial infections and breathing problems like sleep apnea. 

Side effects:

Many side effects are associated with the procedure which subside over a period. They are:

• Pain that is moderate to severe in intensity lasting for a week or two
• Radiating pain to neck, jaws, and ears
• Fever, nausea and vomiting 
• Bad breath that lasts up to 2 weeks 
• Swelling and a feeling of something struck in the throat 
• Anxiety due to pain and sleeplessness

Risks and complications:

Certain risks and complications associated with the procedure include allergies to anesthesia that can lead to life-threatening conditions. Breathing problems due to swelling of the roof of the mouth. Severe bleeding during surgery and during the healing phase that can occur due to the dislodgement of the wound scab. 

Conclusion:

Tonsillectomy is one of the common surgical procedures for removing tonsils. It is done to treat infected tonsils and when there are any breathing problems due to inflamed tonsils. It is done to reduce infections, correct sleep apnea, and improve the quality of life. 

Popular Searches :

Hospitals: Cancer Hospital in Delhi | Best Heart Hospital in Delhi |  Hospital in Amritsar | Hospital in Ludhiana | Hospitals in Mohali | Hospital in Faridabad | Hospitals in Gurgaon | Best Hospital in Jaipur | Hospitals in Greater Noida | Hospitals in Noida | Best Kidney Hospital in Kolkata | Best Hospital in Kolkata | Hospitals in Rajajinagar Bangalore | Hospitals in Richmond Road Bangalore | Hospitals in Nagarbhavi Bangalore | Hospital in Kalyan West | Hospitals in Mulund | Best Hospital in India | | Cardiology Hospital in India | Best Cancer Hospital in India | Best Cardiology Hospital in India | Best Oncology Hospital In India | Best Cancer Hospital in Delhi | Best Liver Transplant Hospital in India

Doctors: Dr. Rana Patir | Dr. Rajesh Benny | Dr. Rahul Bhargava | Dr. Jayant Arora | Dr. Anoop Misra | Dr. Manu Tiwari | Dr. Praveer Agarwal | Dr. Arup Ratan Dutta | Dr. Meenakshi Ahuja | Dr. Anoop Jhurani | Dr. Shivaji Basu | Dr. Subhash Jangid | Dr. Atul Mathur | Dr. Gurinder Bedi | Dr. Monika Wadhawan | Dr. Debasis Datta | Dr. Shrinivas Narayan | Dr. Praveen Gupta | Dr. Nitin Jha | Dr. Raghu Nagaraj | Dr. Ashok Seth | Dr. Sandeep Vaishya | Dr. Atul Mishra | Dr. Z S Meharwal | Dr. Ajay Bhalla | Dr. Atul Kumar Mittal | Dr. Arvind Kumar Khurana | Dr. Narayan Hulse | Dr. Samir Parikh | Dr. Amit Javed | Dr. Narayan Banerjee | Dr. Bimlesh Dhar Pandey | Dr. Arghya Chattopadhyay | Dr. G.R. Vijay Kumar | Dr Ashok Gupta | Dr. Gourdas Choudhuri | Dr. Sushrut Singh | Dr. N.C. Krishnamani | Dr. Atampreet Singh | Dr. Vivek Jawali | Dr. Sanjeev Gulati | Dr. Amite Pankaj Aggarwal | Dr. Ajay Kaul | Dr. Sunita Varma | Dr. Manoj Kumar Goel | Dr. R Muralidharan | Dr. Sushmita Roychowdhury | Dr. T.S. MAHANT | Dr. UDIPTA RAY | Dr. Aparna Jaswal | Dr. Ravul Jindal | Dr. Savyasachi Saxena | Dr. Ajay Kumar Kriplani | Dr. Nitesh Rohatgi | Dr. Anupam Jindal 

Specialties: Heart Lung Transplant | Orthopedic | Cardiology Interventional | Obstetrics & Gynaecology | Onco Radiation | Neurosurgery |  Interventional Cardiology | Gastroenterologist in Jaipur | Neuro Physician | Gynecologist in Kolkata | Best Neurologist in India | Liver Transfer | Best Cardiologist in Delhi