How Are Tonsils Removed?
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Pre-Operative
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Patients who will be undergoing a tonsillectomy (removal of the tonsils) will need to be sure not to eat or drink anything past midnight on the night prior to the operation. This reduces the risk of vomiting during the procedure. Patients will arrive at the hospital or outpatient surgery center. If the patient is a child, he may be given a mild sedative. The patient is then walked back to the operating room or transported there in a gurney.
Surgical Removal
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Once general anesthetic has been administered to the patient and the patient is connected to all necessary IVs, monitors and other medical equipment, the surgeon will proceed with the tonsillectomy. The tongue is depressed and the mouth is held open. Then, using a scalpel, the surgeon will separate and remove the tonsils from the surrounding tissue. An electrocautery is then used to stop bleeding. This is the most common method for tonsil removal and produces minimal bleeding.
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Alternative Methods
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Electrocauterization (burning of tonsils), harmonic scalpel (where ultrasound is used to vibrate blade), radiofrequency ablation (a procedure that requires several sessions to shrink tonsils), carbon dioxide laser removal (not recommended for children, this method can be done in a doctor's office during 15-minute sessions), bipolar radiofrequency ablation/coblation tonsillectomy (disrupts molecular bonds to remove parts of the tonsils) and microdebrider (part of the tonsil is shaved away) are all other methods which may be utilized in performing tonsillectomies. The patient should discuss available methods with their doctor to determine which is most appropriate.
Post-Op
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Following a tonsillectomy, the patient will be given antibiotics to prevent infection of the surgical site, and painkillers to help relieve discomfort after the surgery. Patients will be instructed to consume soft foods so as not to irritate the throat and drink plenty of liquids to prevent dehydration. One or two weeks following the surgery, the patient may notice small white scabs being sloughed off of the back of the throat. Overall recovery time may take weeks, and the patient should avoid strenuous activity during this time.
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