Pain
After removal of the tonsils, moderate to very severe sore throat can be expected. The pain is typically worst in the first two days after the operation and decreases continuously. Metamizol or Diclofenac is usually prescribed as painkilling medication.
Painkillers containing the active ingredient acetylsalicylic acid should not be used as medication, as they also contain an anticoagulant effect and would thus significantly increase the risk of post-operative bleeding. The feeling of a sore nose also occurs relatively frequently, as the patient has to be intubated through the nose during the operation. It is important to drink enough fluid after the operation, as a dry throat area can increase the pain. Certain food and drink can also cause pain after the surgery. For this reason, care should be taken not to eat any sharp, sour, very hard or hot things.
When is a tonsillectomy useful?
Only a few decades ago, it was assumed that the function of the tonsils did not play a major role for children. Therefore, especially in the 1960s, many children had their tonsils removed for fear of recurring tonsillitis. Today the state of research is different.
It is assumed that the tonsils have a decisive function in their function as organs of immune defense, especially in the first six years of development. For this reason, the tonsils are now generally only removed in children who have reached the age of six years. Removal of the tonsils makes sense for some diseases of the tonsils.These include chronic tonsillitis, recurrent tonsillitis (three to six times per year), tumors of the tonsils, sleep apnea syndrome, in case of sepsis or mediastinitis caused by tonsillitis, PFAPA syndrome or pus in the throat that can be associated with tonsillitis. Strong bad breath caused by the tonsils can also be a reason for removal.
What are the risks of tonsillectomy?
In general, a surgical intervention always involves a certain risk. However, the removal of the tonsils is one of the most common operations and even the most common procedure in ear, nose and throat medicine. Due to the routine of the surgical procedure, it is a relatively low-risk procedure, despite general anesthesia.
The most common complication of tonsillectomy is bleeding after the operation. It occurs in 3-4% of those who have undergone surgery, and in 1-2% of those who have undergone surgery it is a complication that requires treatment. In most cases, an ice pack around the neck is sufficient to stop the bleeding, sometimes a second operation may be indicated.
It can occur up to three weeks after the operation and in rare cases it can be life-threatening. Other complications include sore throat, difficulty swallowing, impaired taste, and injury to the hypoglossal nerve. Overall, the duration of complication symptoms in children is significantly shorter than in adults.
Due to the risk of post-operative bleeding, the removal of the tonsils is not performed on an outpatient basis. Patients usually remain in the hospital for one week for check-ups.
