Tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the tonsils. The tonsils are a pair of small glands located at the back of the throat. They are part of the immune system and help to fight off infections. In some cases, however, the tonsils may become enlarged or infected, leading to problems such as difficulty swallowing or breathing. In these cases, tonsillectomy may be recommended to remove the tonsils and alleviate these symptoms.
Indications for tonsillectomy include:
Repeated episodes of tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils) that do not respond to medical treatment
Enlarged tonsils that cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing
Abscesses or infection in the tonsils that do not respond to antibiotics
Tonsils that obstruct the airway and cause sleep apnea
Tonsil cancer
In children, tonsillectomy is commonly combined with adenoidectomy (revmoval of lymph tissue behind the nose) and the procedure is called adenotonsillectomy. It is done when the child is suffering from chronic adenotonsillitis.
The procedure is typically performed under general anesthesia and takes about an hour to complete. The duration of hospital stay is two days. Recovery time can vary, but most people are able to return to their normal activities within a week.
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