Tonsillectomy

Tonsillectomy is the surgical procedure for the removal of the palatine tonsils from the back of the throat. It is one of the most common procedures in the field of otolaryngology, and its technique, with minor variations, has been established for many years.

The patient undergoing the procedure must necessarily meet the international criteria for the indications for tonsillectomy. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, candidate patients are those who suffer from recurrent episodes of tonsillitis with high fever, pain, pus in the tonsils and swollen cervical lymph nodes for at least 7 times in the last year or 5 times in the last two years or 3 times in the last 3 years. Also, in cases of sleep-disordered breathing and sleep apnoea due to hypertrophy of the tonsils, removal of the tonsils is recommended.

The procedure is performed with the patient in a supine position under general anaesthesia. The surgeon stands over the patient's head and after the anaesthesia has started to take effect, a special dilator is placed to keep the mouth open. The tonsil is grasped with special forceps and carefully detached together with its capsule from the tonsillar cavity. The tissues are then carefully checked for bleeding and sutures are placed where necessary. The duration of the operation is ½ to 1 hour. The patient will be recovered in the operating room, then transferred to the ward where antibiotics and pain medication will be administered and the patient will remain in hospital for one night for observation. The next morning, and after being reviewed by his surgeon, he may go home with instructions for medication and feeding.