Palatine Tonsillectomy - Tonsillectomy

Tonsillectomy is the removal of the palatine or lingual tonsils at the back of the throat. The tonsils, along with the adenoids, are part of the system that captures germs entering the body and triggers an immune response to an infection.

Who is a candidate for the procedure?

The palatine tonsils are easily seen on either side of the throat at the level of the soft palate. Removal of the palatine tonsils is an appropriate treatment in the following situations:

The lingual tonsils are areas of tonsil tissue at the back of the tongue. They may be removed for one of several reasons, including:

How is the procedure performed?

A tonsillectomy to remove the palatine tonsils is usually done under general anesthesia, which means that the person is put to sleep for the procedure. A device holds the mouth open, and a clamp is applied to the tonsil. An incision is then made in the lining over the tonsil. This incision can be made with scissors, knife, laser, or electrocautery, which means applying an electric current. The incision exposes a loose tissue layer between the tonsil and the muscles of the palate. The tonsil is then "shelled" out.

General anesthesia is also used when the lingual tonsils are removed. The mouth is held open by an instrument called a laryngoscope. The laryngoscope is a lighted tube through which the lingual tonsils can be seen and removed. The lingual tonsils are at the back of the tongue and are rather firmly attached to the muscles of the tongue. The tonsils are separated from the muscle using either laser or electrocautery.

Because the tonsils have such a good blood supply, there is often quite a bit of bleeding. The bleeding is usually controlled with electrocautery. Commonly, the adenoid is also infected and is removed in a procedure known as an adenoid removal.

Recently, the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, approved a radiofrequency procedure to shrink tonsils in adults, rather than removing them. This procedure is done in a healthcare provider's office using only local anesthesia, which numbs the area around the tonsils. The person sits and opens his or her mouth while the healthcare provider applies bursts of radiofrequency heat with a needle-like device or wand.

What happens right after the procedure?

Following removal of the palatine or lingual tonsils, the throat usually feels quite painful. A tonsillectomy is usually done in a same-day surgery setting, which means that the person can go home after a brief stay in the surgery recovery room. In some cases, an overnight stay in the hospital might be needed.

When a radiofrequency procedure is used to shrink the tonsils, the person can go home soon after the procedure. Some individuals report a sore throat after this procedure, but many return to work within a day or two.

What happens later at home?

After a tonsillectomy, a person should drink enough liquid to avoid dehydration and to keep the throat moist. While a few people can eat a fairly normal diet right away, most people are comfortable with a limited variety of beverages and soft foods. Some foods should be avoided, including:

Pain medications should be limited to those prescribed or recommended by the surgeon. Aspirin products must be avoided after tonsillectomy because of the possibility of bleeding.

What are the potential complications after the procedure?

Most cases of hemorrhage, or bleeding, after tonsillectomy occur in the first 5 to 7 days after surgery. This bleeding should be reported immediately to the surgeon, who may use electrocautery to stop it. A hemorrhage may be the first sign that the person has an overall bleeding problem.

The pain from a tonsillectomy is usually most intense in the first 48 hours after surgery. It starts to ease off but may worsen again 4 to 6 days after surgery. The second peak of pain is often accompanied by severe ear pain. Usually there is nothing wrong with the ears. The pain just happens to radiate at this point in the recovery.

The scabs in the back of the throat often lead to a foul taste in the mouth accompanied by very bad breath. Antibiotics may help with this problem.

A successful tonsillectomy makes the symptoms disappear. After the surgery, strep throat infections are quite rare. Removal of the tonsils in children cures about 95% of sleep apnea cases. Someone who has had difficulty swallowing because of enlarged tonsils can usually swallow normally after recovery. A person with cancer may need other surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy.

Author:Mark Loury, MD
Date Written:
Editor:Ballenberg, Sally, BS
Edit Date:11/29/00
Reviewer:Eileen McLaughlin, RN, BSN
Date Reviewed:07/05/01