BEFORE SURGERY

1. Nothing by mouth after midnight the evening before surgery except medications as instructed by the anesthesiologist at your pre-operative evaluation.
2. Notify your doctor if cough, fever (over 101.5 degrees), or other cold or virus symptoms occur before surgery.
3. Aspirin, aspirin containing products, ibuprofen, or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications should not be taken for 2 weeks prior to surgery.
4. Plan to remain in town for 2 weeks after the surgery.

AFTER SURGERY

1. Increase your fluid intake. Liquids are very important because they prevent dehydration.
2. Limit physical activity for 10 days.
3. Take all antibiotics as directed. It is important to complete the full course.
4. Take liquid Tylenol or other prescribed medication for pain every 4 hours around the clock for the first 48 hours after surgery, especially for children. Children can be given Tylenol suppositories.
5. Throat and ear discomfort are normal after adenoidectomy, and can last as long as 2 weeks postoperatively.
6. Fever is common after adenoidectomy and should be treated with Tylenol.
7. Bad breath and nasal congestion can occur after adenoidectomy, and usually resolves within 10 days.
8. Return for a follow-up office visit 2 - 3 weeks after surgery.

WHEN TO CALL THE DOCTOR

1. Call immediately for any bleeding.
2. Call immediately for any difficulty breathing (except for nasal congestion).
3. Call for persistent vomiting.
4. Call for fever over 101.5 degrees if the fever does not respond to Tylenol.

 

Risks and Complications

Tonsils and adenoids are lymphoid tissue of the pharynx. The tonsils are in the oropharynx (the part of the throat between the palate and the tongue base). The adenoid pad is in the nasopharynx (the part of the throat that extends into the back of the nose). Although the tonsils and adenoids are considered to be part of the immune system, there is no evidence to suggest that removal of this tissue has any adverse effects on the immune system and the ability to fight infection.

Tonsillectomy is performed for a number of reasons including chronic infections, airway obstruction or an asymmetric enlargement of tonsillar tissue. Adenoids are removed for a number of reasons including chronic infections, nasal obstruction and chronic ear infections. The tonsils are sometimes removed without adenoids, and adenoidectomy is occasionally performed without tonsillectomy, depending on the indications for surgery.

The risks of adenoidectomy include: bleeding, infection, risk of anesthesia, as well as nasal regurgitation. Nasal regurgitation can cause difficulty swallowing as well as change in voice quality. Nasal regurgitation is a rare complication of adenoidectomy and is usually temporary. The risks of tonsillectomy include bleeding, infection, changes in voice quality, change in taste sensation, as well as the risk of anesthesia. Approximately 2% of people will have bleeding after tonsillectomy. This usually occurs between five and seven days after surgery. Patients with bleeding may have to be taken back to the operating room for control of bleeding.

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