Pediatric Tonsillectomy

What is a tonsillectomy?

A tonsillectomy is surgery to remove the tonsils. Sometimes the adenoids are removed at the same time. These are above the tonsils and behind the nose. Your doctor will do the surgery through your mouth.

When is surgery recommended?

Enlarged tonsils and/or adenoids can block the airway, especially during sleep, causing snoring, gasping, and difficulty breathing. Removing these can help improve air flow. Also, Children with frequent bacterial throat infections (strep throat) that affect their quality of life and school attendance can benefit from tonsillectomy.

What should I expect from surgery?

You will be asleep. The doctor will go through your mouth to remove the tonsils (and the adenoids if needed).

What are the risks?

Bleeding is one of the more common risks, but this still only happens in about 1-2 out of every 100 surgeries. Some children have a harder time breathing right after surgery and occasionally have to be admitted to the hospital to be watched carefully. Very rare risks of scarring in the back of the nose that can make the voice sound different or make it harder to breathe through the nose.

What should I expect after surgery?

It takes most children 7 to 10 days to recover from surgery. Some children feel better in just a few days, and some take as many as 2 weeks to recover. Most children have quite a bit of ear and throat pain for up to 2 weeks after surgery. During the recovery, your child may experience no pain to significant pain. It is not uncommon for the pain to get worse before it gets better. A fever up to 102 F (38.9 C) is common in the days following surgery. Your child may feel tired for several days and then gradually become more active. Typically children can return to school or day care in 1 week and return to full activities in 2 weeks. Your child may also have very bad breath for up to 2 weeks.