Having your tonsils removed is a surgical procedure called a tonsillectomy. Reasons you may need to have your tonsils removed include frequent infections (episodes oftonsillitis, usually seven or more in one year), obstructive sleep-disordered breathing or swallowing,sleep apnea, or any growths on the tonsils.
Verywell / Maritsa Patrinos
Preparation
Tonsillectomies are performed undergeneral anesthesia. You will be completely asleep and will not be able to feel pain during the procedure. To reduce the risk of vomiting with anesthesia, you will not be able to eat before surgery.
Your healthcare provider or nurse will give you exact instructions about when to stop eating and drinking. In addition to not eating or drinking, you should not smoke, chew gum, or suck on mints or candy.
Tonsillectomies are mostly performed as a same-day surgery.This means that you will go home the same day that you have your tonsils removed. You should wear loose comfortable clothing to the surgical center. Arrive on time.
If you have other health problems, your healthcare provider may order blood work or other tests before the surgery. If you are a woman of childbearing age, it is mandatory that you have a pregnancy test before the surgery. This requires a small amount of urine.
If the patient is a child and has a comfort item, such as a blanket or a favorite toy, bring it with you. Also, if your child drinks from a bottle or special cup, bring it along so your child can drink after the surgery. Make sure you bring comfortable clothing and extra diapers or underwear.
You will need to stop any medication that thins the blood one to two weeks before the procedure. These include aspirin, Plavix (clopidogrel), warfarin, and high-dose vitamin E.
When You Arrive
Upon arrival, you will be asked to register and provide your insurance details. You’ll then be led to a changing room to change into a hospital gown and asked to remove any metal objects from your body. You will also need to remove contact lenses, dentures, and hearing aids.
In some cases, a medication called Versed (midazolam) may be given prior to the procedure to reduce anxiety, especially in small children.
Tonsillectomy Types
Recovery
You will likely be prescribed oral pain medication to take following surgery. Typical medications used include the opioids oxycodone and hydrocodone.
If a combination painkiller like Percocet (oxycodone and acetaminophen) or hydrocodone- acetaminophen is prescribed, you would need to avoid Tylenol (acetaminophen) to prevent acetaminophen overdose.
You should not drive while taking any of these medications. Your pain should gradually subside within a few days. Make sure to schedule a follow-up appointment and to call your surgeon if you experience any signs of infection or illness.
When to Call Your Healthcare ProviderCall your healthcare provider or go to the nearest emergency room if you experience any of the following:High fever (over 100.4 )Extreme nausea or vomitingSevere painInability to urinate eight to 12 hours after surgeryBright red bleeding from the tonsilsShortness of breath (dyspnea)Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
When to Call Your Healthcare Provider
Call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest emergency room if you experience any of the following:High fever (over 100.4 )Extreme nausea or vomitingSevere painInability to urinate eight to 12 hours after surgeryBright red bleeding from the tonsilsShortness of breath (dyspnea)Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
Call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest emergency room if you experience any of the following:
Causes and Diagnosis of Tonsillitis
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Francis DO, Chinnadurai S, Sathe NA, et al.Tonsillectomy for obstructive sleep-disordered breathing or recurrent throat infection in children[Internet]. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2017 Jan. (Comparative Effectiveness Reviews, No. 183.)U.S. National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus.Tonsillectomy.Cleveland Clinic.Tonsillectomy: Procedure details.Wong DJY, Paddle P.Harmonic scalpel versus other techniques for tonsillectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Australian Journal of Otolaryngology. 2019;2:3-3. doi:10.21037/ajo.2019.01.03Renkonen S, Mäkitie AA, Bäck L.Targeted treatment with radio frequency ablation for lingual tonsil.Clin Med Insights Ear Nose Throat.2018;11. doi:1179550617749857Lieberg N, Aunapuu M, Arend A.Coblation tonsillectomy versus cold steel dissection tonsillectomy: a morphological study.J Laryngol Otol. 2019;:1-5. doi:10.1017/S0022215119001762U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Acetaminophen information.Additional ReadingTonsillectomy. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003013.htm.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Francis DO, Chinnadurai S, Sathe NA, et al.Tonsillectomy for obstructive sleep-disordered breathing or recurrent throat infection in children[Internet]. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2017 Jan. (Comparative Effectiveness Reviews, No. 183.)U.S. National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus.Tonsillectomy.Cleveland Clinic.Tonsillectomy: Procedure details.Wong DJY, Paddle P.Harmonic scalpel versus other techniques for tonsillectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Australian Journal of Otolaryngology. 2019;2:3-3. doi:10.21037/ajo.2019.01.03Renkonen S, Mäkitie AA, Bäck L.Targeted treatment with radio frequency ablation for lingual tonsil.Clin Med Insights Ear Nose Throat.2018;11. doi:1179550617749857Lieberg N, Aunapuu M, Arend A.Coblation tonsillectomy versus cold steel dissection tonsillectomy: a morphological study.J Laryngol Otol. 2019;:1-5. doi:10.1017/S0022215119001762U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Acetaminophen information.Additional ReadingTonsillectomy. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003013.htm.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Francis DO, Chinnadurai S, Sathe NA, et al.Tonsillectomy for obstructive sleep-disordered breathing or recurrent throat infection in children[Internet]. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2017 Jan. (Comparative Effectiveness Reviews, No. 183.)U.S. National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus.Tonsillectomy.Cleveland Clinic.Tonsillectomy: Procedure details.Wong DJY, Paddle P.Harmonic scalpel versus other techniques for tonsillectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Australian Journal of Otolaryngology. 2019;2:3-3. doi:10.21037/ajo.2019.01.03Renkonen S, Mäkitie AA, Bäck L.Targeted treatment with radio frequency ablation for lingual tonsil.Clin Med Insights Ear Nose Throat.2018;11. doi:1179550617749857Lieberg N, Aunapuu M, Arend A.Coblation tonsillectomy versus cold steel dissection tonsillectomy: a morphological study.J Laryngol Otol. 2019;:1-5. doi:10.1017/S0022215119001762U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Acetaminophen information.
Francis DO, Chinnadurai S, Sathe NA, et al.Tonsillectomy for obstructive sleep-disordered breathing or recurrent throat infection in children[Internet]. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2017 Jan. (Comparative Effectiveness Reviews, No. 183.)
U.S. National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus.Tonsillectomy.
Cleveland Clinic.Tonsillectomy: Procedure details.
Wong DJY, Paddle P.Harmonic scalpel versus other techniques for tonsillectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Australian Journal of Otolaryngology. 2019;2:3-3. doi:10.21037/ajo.2019.01.03
Renkonen S, Mäkitie AA, Bäck L.Targeted treatment with radio frequency ablation for lingual tonsil.Clin Med Insights Ear Nose Throat.2018;11. doi:1179550617749857
Lieberg N, Aunapuu M, Arend A.Coblation tonsillectomy versus cold steel dissection tonsillectomy: a morphological study.J Laryngol Otol. 2019;:1-5. doi:10.1017/S0022215119001762
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Acetaminophen information.
Tonsillectomy. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003013.htm.
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