Tonsil removal procedure is commonly called as Tonsillectomy. Tonsil removal surgery is most commonly performed in children and also adults at some rare cases. When the tonsils become infected or enlarged then it should be removed before it gets complicated. Also the tonsil removal surgery may be combined along with adenoidectomy which involves removing adenoidal set of glands present in the throat.
Preparing the Patient for Tonsil Removal Procedure
Prior to the surgery, the Doctor will provide instructions to be followed. The patient should follow all those instructions strictly in order to get a good result out of the surgery. Instructions to be followed by Patient before this surgery are:
1.Totally empty the colon and clean the intestines well before surgery. It is advised to drink only clear liquids before few days of surgery.
2.Dont eat or drink water before the night prior to the procedure and take only a sip of water at the morning.
3.Dont smoke for at least six or eight weeks before surgery, since smoking will delay the healing of wound and also it can create breathing problems during the
surgery.
4.Plan for the recovery and post-operative care after the procedure. Make a person available to accompany the patient after the surgery.
Tonsil Removal Procedure
Tonsil removal surgery is normally an outpatient procedure and the patient can go home on the day of surgery itself. Initially the patient will be given general anesthesia. The surgery will be done through the mouth and also the tongue will be depressed with the help of an instrument named Davis gag.The patient will be made to breath nasally by inserting a tube from the airway. After that, the tonsils will be removed by the surgeon by the side of the throat. This will be done with the help of special tweezers for scraping or sometimes using laser methods.
The bleeding will be controlled by incision cauterizing. Also, when needed, the adenoidectomy surgery will be done by employing the same technique at the same time. The instrument used for this procedure is known as adenoid curette.In tonsil removal procedure, no cuts or incisions are done and hence stitches are nil or very few. This procedure usually will take about 30 to 45 minutes. After the surgery, the patient will be given a drug to wake up and will be taken to Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU).
Complications of Tonsil Removal Procedure
1.Bleeding is a common problem after the surgery.
2.Bacterial infection, dehydration and pain in the ears.
3.Prolonged pain even after the procedure.
4.Permanent change of voice and hyper-nasal speech.
5.Using tonsil gag while doing the procedure may cause damage to the teeth and create issues in throat and mouth.