Tonsillectomy

A tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the tonsils, which are two oval-shaped lymphoid tissues located at the back of the throat. While tonsils help fight infections, they can themselves become problematic when frequently infected or enlarged.

Causes

The most common reason for recommending a tonsillectomy is recurrent tonsillitis—frequent inflammation and infection of the tonsils, often due to bacterial or viral pathogens such as Streptococcus pyogenes. Other causes include chronic tonsillitis that does not respond to medication, obstructive sleep apnea caused by enlarged tonsils, difficulty swallowing, breathing problems, or suspicion of tonsil tumors.

Symptoms

Signs indicating a possible need for tonsillectomy include:

• Persistent sore throat
• Difficulty or pain while swallowing
• Enlarged, inflamed tonsils
• Recurrent high fever
• Bad breath (halitosis) due to chronic infection
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
• Sleep disturbances such as snoring or pauses in breathing

Treatment

When tonsillitis occurs occasionally, it is usually managed with rest, fluids, pain relief, and, if bacterial, antibiotics. However, if infections are frequent or cause complications, a tonsillectomy may be advised. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia and usually takes 20–30 minutes. Various surgical techniques—such as cold knife dissection, electrocautery, or coblation—can be used. Recovery typically takes 1–2 weeks, during which patients may experience throat pain, ear pain, or mild bleeding. Adequate hydration, soft foods, and pain relief medications help ease recovery.