Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Palatine Tonsillectomy - Tonsillectomy
Overview & Description
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.