Anenoidectomy

The adenoids are made up of lymph tissue, which is part of the body's infection-fighting immune system.  Specifically, the adenoids, along with the tonsils, protect against upper respiratory infections.  However, removing tonsils and adenoids does not cause any deficiency in the immune system.

The adenoids tend to enlarge during early childhood.  If they become too big, they can cause problems, such as:

* difficulty breathing through the nose
* chronic infections of the throat and middle ear
* muffled speech that lacks nasal resonance and
* loud snoring or other sleep disorders that may cause daytime sleepiness if not getting enough restful sleep at night

Adenoidectomy is much less common in adults than in children.  Adenoids often have atrophied or shrunk by adulthood so they rarely cause any problems for adults.

If removing the adenoids is necessary, laboratory tests will need to be done.  In addition, your healthcare provider will need to know about any:

* significant medical problems the patient has had in the past year
* family history of problems with anesthesia
* allergies or bleeding disorders the patient has and
* medications the patient is taking

To get ready for the surgery, patients should not have anything to eat or drink for the 12 hours before the operation.  This includes chewing gum, mouthwash, throat lozenges, toothpaste, and water.  This is to guard against having anything in the stomach that could be vomited whenanesthesia is begun.  Aspirin and other over-the-counter medications containing aspirin should not be used for 2 weeks prior to surgery.

In addition to the physical preparations for the surgery, the patient should be told what to expect before and after surgery.  A healthcare provider and the patient's parents should do this, if the patient is a child.  Parents should plan on spending as much time as possible with the child before and after surgery to offer comfort and support.

The surgery requires a general anesthesia so the patient will be unconscious and feel no pain.  After surgery, a stay in the recovery room may vary from a few hours or more before the patient has recovered enough to be sent home.  Some patients may need to spend 1 or 2 days in the hospital.

NORMAL SYMPTOMS that may occur during the FIRST WEEK after an adenoidectomy include:

* difficulty swallowing
* sore throat
* nausea and vomiting
* bad breath and
* ear pain

HOME CARE AFTER SURGERY:

* drink plenty of fluids
* eat soft foods like ice cream and jell-o and
* rest at home for the first 48 hours after surgery
* rough play and contact sports should not be allowed until 14 days after surgery
* take an over-the-counter or prescription pain reliever as needed, such as an ASPIRIN SUBSTITUTE like Tylenol or Panadol 

MEDICATION CAUTIONS:

* Do NOT give children aspirin. Aspirin and aspirin-containing products should NOT be given to children under the age of 19 due to the risk of Reye's syndrome, a serious condition that can lead to coma and death.
* Aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen should NOT be taken without approval from a healthcare provider if the person has an ulcer, kidney problems, an allergy to aspirin, or if on a blood-thinning medication.

CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF:

* there is any bleeding from the mouth or nose
* a fever goes over 102°Fahrenheit (39°Centigrade)
* dehydration occurs
* severe difficulty swallowing prevents drinking fluids
* any vomiting lasts more than 12 hours or
* intense pain is not relieved by medication

Usually, adenoidectomy carries very little risk.  However, even though it is small, there is a risk of death from the surgery.  One patient out of every 15 thousand dies from complications after the surgery.  The surgery may be DANGEROUS to people with:

* a cleft palate or
* disorders that affect the structure and function of the face and skull (such as, Down syndrome and Pierre Robin syndrome)

In summary, the surgical procedure is simple.  The patient may be sent home a few hours after surgery or hospitalized for a day or two.  A very sore throat will last for a few days after the operation.  For more information, contact your healthcare provider.

Disclaimer:  This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available.  The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.