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Tonsillectomy

Generally speaking, we like to leave tonsils alone but sometimes because of repeated infections such as Strep or enlargement to the point where breathing, speech or dental development are being affected, it becomes necessary to remove the tonsils.

There may be a time when medical therapy (antibiotics) fails to resolve the chronic tonsil infections. In other cases enlarged tonsils cause loud snoring, upper airway obstruction, and other sleep disorders. The best recourse for both these conditions may be removal or reduction of the tonsils and adenoids. The American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery recommends that patients who have three or more tonsil infections a year undergo a tonsillectomy; the young patient with a sleep disorder should be a candidate for removal or reduction of the enlarged tonsils.

Tonsils are usually removed under general anesthesia as an outpatient procedure. Patients generally go home about an hour after the procedure. Careful attention to keeping the throat moist (popsicles, juice and water) will help speed healing and minimize discomfort. It can take from 7 to 14 days for complete healing of the tonsil area to occur.

 

Download Tonsillectomy Post-Op Surgery Instructions

Content is provided and licensed by the American Academy of Otolaryngology