Tonsils are groups of tissue located at the back of the throat that assist in battling infections. Occasionally, children may require a tonsillectomy (a surgical procedure to eliminate the tonsils) if they frequently suffer from strep throat or tonsillitis (infected tonsils). Tonsils that are enlarged can also cause difficulty in swallowing or sleeping.
Your child is likely to be having this procedure because:
• their tonsils are large and cause breathing problems at night (snoring and sleep apnoea,
where their breathing stops and starts)
• they keep getting throat infections and tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils)
The goal of the operation is to eliminate your child’s tonsils and address their symptoms. It’s possible that your child will also require the removal of their adenoids (tiny growths at the rear of the nasal passage).
It’s necessary for us to have a consultation with your child at a clinic before they are admitted. This consultation could occur in person or through an online platform. We ensure that your child is prepared for the anaesthetic, which is a drug used to induce sleep during the operation, and the surgery.
Following the consultation, our admissions team will reach out to you via mail, text, or phone. We will schedule a date for your child’s surgery. Additionally, we will inform you about the time period your child needs to fast before the surgery.
Ensure that you have a week’s worth of paracetamol (for pain relief) and ibuprofen (for reducing inflammation) available at your residence prior to the surgery. It’s not common practice to provide these medications for your child to take home following day surgery.
We administer a broad anaesthesia to your child. This drug induces a state of unconsciousness in your child, preventing them from experiencing any discomfort throughout the operation. You are permitted to remain by your child’s side until they are in a deep sleep.
While your kid is sleeping, we take out the tonsils using their mouth. There are various kinds of tonsil removal procedures. We discuss the various treatment choices with you beforehand and suggest the best option for your child.
In the conventional method of tonsil removal, the entire tonsils are surgically excised using steel tools by pulling them away from the muscles of the throat beneath. We exert force to halt the haemorrhage and utilise stitches that dissolve on their own or heat to close the incision.
Frequently, we suggest an alternative method known as a coblation intracapsular tonsillectomy (the coblation method) rather than the traditional approach. In this case, we eliminate a significant portion of the tonsil tissue using a unique handheld tool that employs radio waves (radiofrequency energy). Nonetheless, we retain a minimal amount of tonsil tissue to safeguard the muscles of the throat beneath.
The coblation method carries significantly reduced chances of experiencing discomfort and bleeding following the operation. Additionally, this method leads to a quicker healing period. Your child is expected to require one week away from nursery or school with this method, as opposed to two weeks for the conventional tonsil surgery approach.
Each process carries certain dangers of complications. To minimise these dangers, we ensure that your child is in good health before the procedure. We discuss the potential risks with you in the clinic and prior to the procedure once we have obtained your approval.
Your kid might become sleepy following their operation and rest for a bit. They could also become fussy (agitated) and distressed for as long as an hour after they come out of the surgery. While it’s possible for some kids to experience discomfort and feel nauseous (vomit), this isn’t typical.
While under the knife, we administer pain relievers, liquids, medications to prevent nausea, and a local anaesthetic that numbs their throat.
Following standard tonsillectomy, the recovery period can be quite uncomfortable, as the tonsils are entirely removed. However, if your child undergoes the coblation method, the discomfort tends to be reduced. While your child is conscious, they might receive paracetamol, ibuprofen, or a combination of both.
You’re free to administer these medications to your child as necessary once they’re back home. The nurses will assist you in determining when the next dose of pain relief is required.
Your child should be able to eat and drink or feed as usual within 1 to 2 hours of the procedure.
Yes, the surgeon comes to check your child after their procedure. They update you about the surgery and answer any questions that you may have.
Your child can go home on the same day as their procedure when at least 3 to 4 hours have passed and they:
Following the tonsillectomy, it’s advised to provide your child with paracetamol and ibuprofen consistently for the first week and afterwards as required. Ensure to purchase these medications in advance of the surgery. Additionally, it’s crucial for your child to stay hydrated by drinking lots of fluids.
It’s also acceptable to administer the two medications simultaneously, preferably with a meal. This arrangement simplifies the schedule and the medications act on the body differently.
For the first few days after tonsil surgery, you may notice that:
These symptoms are common in the first week after tonsil surgery and are not signs of infection.
Should the surgeon believe that your child requires a subsequent visit, we will schedule this for 2 to 4 months following the surgery. The consultation can occur in person or over the phone. If necessary, please discuss with the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) team regarding the scheduling of a follow-up visit.
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