Tonsillectomy Surgery Abroad

A tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure wherein the tonsils (and sometimes the adenoids) are removed. It is generally performed when the patient has experienced frequent bouts of tonsillitis, has chronic tonsillitis or has multiple bouts of peritonsillar abscess.

Tonsillitis is a condition in which the tonsils, located at the back of the throat, become infected resulting in inflammation and anything from mild discomfort to acute pain. Infection can be of a bacterial or viral nature, with group A streptococcal bacteria indicated in the former case and a variety of sources indicated in the latter.

The condition can take any of three forms: acute, sub acute and chronic. Of these, sub acute and acute are normally bacterial in origin, while chronic can be bacterial or viral. If bacterial sources are confirmed as the condition’s cause, sufferers can be treated with antibiotics, with penicillin being the usual option. Additionally anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen can reduce symptoms considerably, allowing sufferers to swallow while topical anesthetics can also be effective in relieving pain and discomfort.

Procedure information

When tonsillitis is recurring and of the chronic nature, doctors invariably recommend that sufferers undergo a procedure known as a tonsillectomy. This is effectively a complete removal of the lymphoid tissue that comprises the organs. While the tonsils perform an important role in the body’s immune system, medicine has proved that the system can adapt to perform harmoniously without them.

A variety of approaches to tonsil removal have been developed however the traditional cold knife dissection procedure is still the most common and popular technique among ear, nose and throat specialists. The procedure is carried out while the patient is under general anesthetic and is quick and relatively complication free. Alternatives to this process include electrocautery, radiofrequency ablation, thermal welding and carbon dioxide laser.

Recovery time

The length of time required for a complete recovery is largely dependent on the age of the patient. Generally, the older the patient, the longer the recovery will take. Children can expect to be back to normal in as little as 4 to 5 days; teenagers can take anywhere from 7 to 10 days, while adults can expect a minimum of 10 days and anything up to 20 days with the possibility of some discomfort for as long as a month after.

Some bleeding is possible during the recovery period but it invariably stops of its own accord. Patients can help avoid breaking the scabbed tissues in the throat, which can lead to bleeding, by restricting or entirely avoiding coarse foods such as potato chips, toast, popcorn, crackers and dry cereal.