Contents:
- Medical Video: The Day Of The Procedure (Preparing Your Child For Surgery)
- What is tonsillectomy?
- What should I know before my child undergoes tonsillectomy?
- What is the process of tonsillectomy in children?
- What should I do after the child has tonsillectomy?
- What complications can occur?
Medical Video: The Day Of The Procedure (Preparing Your Child For Surgery)
Definition
What is tonsillectomy?
Tonsillectomy is the surgical removal of tonsils / tonsils, part of a group of lymphoid tissues (such as the glands in the neck) that play a role in fighting infections that are inhaled or ingested. Tonsillitis occurs when the tonsils have been infected. This causes pain, fever and difficulty swallowing and can make a child feel unwell.
When does my child need to undergo tonsillectomy?
This operation may be needed by the child to improve the respiratory tract and asthma, and reduce infections of the throat, sinuses and ears. Adenoids can be removed at the same time if they are found swollen or infected.
Prevention & warning
What should I know before my child undergoes tonsillectomy?
Surgery is the only reliable solution to prevent tonsillitis from coming back. In children, the frequent cycle of infection can be broken with antibiotic treatment. In fact, tonsillitis can heal on its own after several years.
Process
What should I do before the child undergoes tonsillectomy?
During the surgery preparation phase, make sure you tell the doctor about the child's health condition, the medicines being consumed, and all kinds of allergies that the child has. The anesthesiologist will explain the anesthesia procedure and give further instructions. Follow all doctor's instructions including a ban on eating and drinking before surgery. In general, children are required to fast for six hours before the surgery is carried out. However, children may be allowed to consume drinks like coffee a few hours before surgery.
What is the process of tonsillectomy in children?
This operation is carried out under general anesthesia and usually takes around 30 minutes. The surgeon will perform tonsillectomy through the child's mouth. They will slice tonsils from the underlying muscle layer, use heat to remove tonsils and sterilize the area, or use radio frequency energy to remove tonsils. The surgeon will also stop excessive bleeding.
What should I do after the child has tonsillectomy?
After undergoing surgery, the child is allowed to go home the next day. Postoperative pain will continue to appear for up to two weeks and tends to feel more severe in the morning. Usually, children need recovery time of two weeks before returning to school and meeting with many people. This can prevent throat infections in the recovery period.
Complications
What complications can occur?
The child may experience a fever or infection after surgery, swelling in the mouth, throat, or lungs, which makes it difficult to breathe. In addition, the child has the potential to experience abdominal pain or vomiting after surgery, pain in the throat, ears, or jaw. As a result of pain in the throat, children have difficulty swallowing and drinking. Excessive bleeding may also occur during or after surgery. Factors that increase the risk of bleeding are age and exposure to smoke. In severe cases, children can develop blood infections so that the child's life is threatened. Even though it makes it difficult for children to breathe, anesthesia has a very small risk of causing heart problems and is life threatening. Tonsils of children can grow back after surgery.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
