You may have a sore throat, earache and a stiff jaw for the first week or two. Keep away from crowded and smoky places, and from people with coughs and colds. You should rest for around a week and stay at home. Recovering from adenoid and tonsil removal Try to have a friend or relative stay with you for the first 24 hours. You will need to arrange for someone to drive you home. Before you go home, a nurse will give you a date for a follow-up appointment. You will usually be able to go home when you feel ready, unless your surgeon feels you should stay overnight. Try to drink and eat as soon as you feel ready. You will need to rest on your side until the effects of the anaesthetic have passed.
Power-assisted adenoidectomy – your surgeon uses a microdebrider (a powered instrument with a very small rotating tip) to remove your adenoids.
Lasers or ultrasound waves – your surgeon uses high-energy waves to cut out your adenoids and/or tonsils and seal the blood vessels to stop bleeding.ĭiathermy – your surgeon uses heat from an electric current to cut out your adenoids and/or tonsils and seal the blood vessels. He or she applies pressure to stop the bleeding, and dissolvable stitches or heat are used to seal the wound. Traditional method – your surgeon carefully cuts your tonsils and/or adenoids out using specialised instruments. There are several methods available for removing your tonsils and adenoids including the following. The operation usually takes about 30 minutes but this will depend on whether you’re having your tonsils or adenoids removed, or both. However, it’s important to follow your surgeon’s advice.Īt the hospital, a nurse may check your heart rate and blood pressure, and test your urine. This means not eating or drinking, typically for about six hours beforehand. You will be asked to follow fasting instructions. This means you will be asleep during the operation. The operation is done under general anaesthesia. This will enable you to give your informed consent for the procedure to go ahead, which you may be asked to do by signing a consent form. You can ask questions about the risks, benefits and if there are any alternatives to the procedure. Your surgeon will discuss with you what will happen before, during and after your operation, and any pain you might have. The operation may need to be postponed until you have fully recovered. If you have a cold or infection in the week before your operation, it’s important to let the hospital know. If children have enlarged adenoids and these block the airways in their nose, treatment with medicines called steroids may relieve the problem. In children, the adenoids and tonsils shrink as they get older, so an operation isn’t always necessary. Painkillers and antibiotics provide temporary relief, but they aren’t normally used for long-term treatment. However, surgery isn’t always needed for children as they often ‘grow out of’ these problems. Likewise, having your adenoids removed is an effective treatment for recurrent ear infections and nasal blockage caused by enlarged adenoids. Having your tonsils removed can be a very effective treatment for recurrent and persistent sore throats. Most operations to remove the tonsils and adenoids are done in children but adults can have these operations too. An operation to remove both is called an adenotonsillectomy. Your tonsils lie at the back of your throat, one on each side.Īn operation to remove your tonsils is called a tonsillectomy and an operation to remove your adenoids is called an adenoidectomy. Your adenoids lie where your throat meets the back of your nose. Recovering from adenoid and tonsil removalĪdenoids and tonsils are small lumps of tissue that help fight ear, nose and throat infections in younger children. What are the alternatives to having your adenoids and tonsils removed?Īnimation – How an adenotonsillectomy is carried out
It may differ from what is described here as it will be designed to meet your individual needs. You will meet the surgeon carrying out your operation to discuss your care. An operation to remove the tonsils is called a tonsillectomy and an operation to remove the adenoids is called an adenoidectomy. However, for simplicity, we refer to 'you' throughout.Īdenoids and tonsils are small lumps of tissue at the back of the nose and throat. This factsheet is relevant for adults who are having their adenoids and/or tonsils removed and for parents of children who are having the operation. This factsheet is for people who are having their adenoids and/or tonsils removed, or who would like information about it.