Tonsillectomy Surgery

A tonsillectomy involves the removal of the lingual or palatine tonsils that are located at the back of an individual's throat. Usually an individual's tonsils are removed along with the adenoids. The adenoids are a part of the body that is designed to capture germs that enter the body. These germs are captured in order to trigger an immune response.

The palatine tonsils are actually located on either side of the walls of the throat. An individual looking in a mirror can see their tonsils around the level of the soft palate. A physician may recommend a tonsillectomy if the individual has had over three bacterial infections over the past few years or if an individual has experienced tonsillitis six times in the past year or if the individual has chronic tonsillitis that does not seem to respond to treatment with antibiotic. Swollen tonsils are a sign of having a bacterial infection or tonsillitis. When an individual has swollen tonsils the individual will usually have a sore throat or swollen glands.

Lingual tonsils are located in the area of tonsil tissue that can be seen at the back of the tongue. The reason that an individual may have lingual tonsils removed is because the individual has chronic tonsillitis, sleep apnea caused from enlargement of the tonsils, swollen tonsils that cause difficulty swallowing or has been diagnosed with cancer.

A tonsillectomy of the palatine tonsils involves general anesthesia. This is a procedure in which the patient is allowed to go home the same day as the surgery. A device is used to hold the mouth open as a clamp is inserted onto the area of the tonsil. An incision is placed around the lining of the tonsil. The incision is designed to expose the loose tissue that is located between the muscles of the palate and the tonsil. The tonsil is then removed.

When lingual tonsils are removed the patient is also put under general anesthesia. A laryngoscope is used to light the tube in which the tonsils are seen and then removed with. The tonsils re separated from the area of the back of the tongue through the use of a laser or electrocautery.

After a tonsillectomy is performed an individual will have a sore throat and mild pain. A tonsillectomy has a very short recovery time and is usually performed on children under the age of ten. This is a very common and routine procedure that is performed in the United States every day.