Tonsillectomy in children- what to expect?

Tonsils are two large pads of tissue at the back of your throat. Your tonsils can get inflamed due to recurring infections or strep throat. Tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures done in children and young adults that involves removing your tonsils. It is required when you have frequent infections, obstructive sleep apnea or other complications.

What to expect before a tonsillectomy?

Your child should get a physical examination 7 days before surgery. Your healthcare practitioner will let you know when your child needs to stop taking medicines before the surgery. It is important that your child has an empty stomach while taking the anaesthesia.

Surgery, no matter how minor, can be scary for your child. Hence, it is important to be there for your child and talk to him/her about what to expect so that he/she is prepared.

What to expect during a tonsillectomy?

Most tonsillectomies are done on an outpatient basis, which means that the patient is able to return home the same day after the surgery. Some very small children, children with existing medical conditions or children who had complications during the surgery may be kept overnight.

Your child will be given general anaesthesia, which means that he/she will be asleep during the procedure and will not feel any sort of discomfort. You can stay with your child till the anaesthesia is given, after which you’ll be taken to the waiting room until the surgery is over.

During the procedure, the doctor uses surgical instruments to remove the tonsils through the mouth itself. There will be no incisions made and hence, no scars after the procedure.

There are two kinds of tonsillectomy. The conventional tonsillectomy involves the complete removal of both the tonsils. The second kind of tonsillectomy is the intracapsular tonsillectomy which involves removing the affecting tonsils but also leaving a little bit of the tonsil tissue behind to protect the side of the throat.

The entire procedure lasts 20-30 minutes.

What to expect after the tonsillectomy?

Your child will wake up in the recovery room. The nurse will monitor the progress of your child. Most of the time, your child would be able to go home the same day, however, if the child is younger, he/she may have to stay overnight. If your child stays overnight, one parent will be required to stay with him/her.

For the first 24 hours, your child may experience nausea/vomiting and an upset stomach. Most children experience a sore throat for 10 days after their surgery. Hence, it is important to keep giving your child plenty of fluids.

If your child gets a fever for 3-4 days after the surgery, it is completely normal and not a cause for concern. He/she may also experience ear pain which is a common occurrence and not a sign of ear infection.

Complete recovery takes:

• Ages 2-4: within a week

• Ages 4 to pre-teen: in one week

• Pre-teens and teens: one-two weeks

Care at home

Provide pain medication to your child as instructed by your healthcare practitioner. It is important to make him/her rest and limit his/her activities to a minimum.

You will need to encourage your child to drink plenty of water and stay hydrated as it will help with his/her sore throat.

You can also place a humidifier next to your child’s bed at night so that the air they breathe remains moist. This will not only prevent dehydration but also reduce the pain and irritation of the sore throat.

It is vital that they do not blow their nose for at least two weeks after the surgery.

Your child should not participate in any sports for at least 14 days after the surgery.

Signs of dehydration include sunken eyes, no urine for over eight hours and dry and sticky lips. If your child shows these signs, seek help immediately.

Takeaway

Even though the tonsils are a part of our immune system, getting them removed will not weaken your child’s immune system. Children who have their tonsils removed do not have any more illnesses than others. In fact, some children get fewer illnesses, like strep throat, after their tonsils are taken out.

It is important to prepare your child before the surgery so that he/she doesn’t get too scared and has an idea of what to expect.

It is important to observe whatever your child is feeling post-surgery.

If you notice anything unusual, contact your healthcare practitioner for help.

Healthcare Buddy "Stay Fit, Stay Heathy"