What is Tonsillectomy?
Surgical removal of tonsils is called tonsillectomy. Tonsils are located in the back of the throat and are a part of our immune system that defends the body from infections. Tonsillectomy is usually performed on children.
A tonsillectomy is performed under general anaesthesia and takes about 20 – 30 minutes. In the most common method, the surgeon removes tonsils using a scalpel. Other tonsillectomy methods include using coblation, radio frequency ablation, or CO2 laser to remove tonsils.
A tonsillectomy has no adverse effect on the body’s immunity.
Preparations for Surgery
Pre-surgery

- The patient should have no food at all from six hours prior to the surgery.
- If the infant is undergoing tonsillectomy, bring along special formula/breast milk for post-operative feeding.
- If the patient’s is suffering from cough, cold, fever or throat pain, parents must mention it to the doctor and anaesthetist.
- If the patient is allergic to any drugs that should be mentioned as well.
Post-surgery

- The patient will not be allowed any drink or food till 4-5 hours after the surgery. After that cold water can be given to sip.
- After the patient eats or drinks anything, he/she should gargle their mouth with plain water and that should then be spit out.
- While mostly it is in throat, sometimes the pain can also be felt in the ears, jaws or neck that can last for up to a fortnight after the surgery.
- The patient should use pain medications as prescribed by the operating surgeon.
- The patient should be given plenty of fluids like cold water to drink or even ice-cream.
- The patient should eat only non-spicy and easy-to-swallow food.
- Patient should take a week’s bed rest and strenuous exercise, running and bike riding are not allowed for a fortnight
- The site of tonsils will have some discolouration that will take about 3 to 4 weeks to disappear.
- The patient may snore and breathe through the mouth due to swollen throat which will take 10-14 days to subside.
- The patient can have low fever for 2-3 days after the surgery.
Follow-ups

The patient will be required to come for post-op check-ups in the OPD on day 1, day 3, day 7, day 14, day 21, and day 28 after the surgery.
Complications

- Bright red bleeding from the mouth.
- Fever might climb higher than 101 F and does not get better with medication.
- There might be excessive pain.
- Dehydration might happen, which will show up as dry mouth, tearless crying, no urine output for over a period of 4-6 hours and sunken eyes etc.