Health Library

Tonsillectomy - series

Normal anatomy

Tonsil glands are located in the back of the throat. They contain immune cells which fight infection.

Indications

Tonsillectomy is advisable when tonsillitis attacks are so frequent or severe that they affect a child's general health or interfere with school, hearing, or breathing. However, tonsillectomies are thought to be done more often than necessary, so a second opinion should be obtained when there is any doubt.

Specifically, the guidelines for surgery are:

• 5 or more episodes of tonsillitis in one year, or
• 3 or more episodes per year over a 2-year period, or
• upper airway obstruction due to tonsillar hypertrophy
• recurrent tonsillar abscess

Tonsillectomy is advised if the tonsils are enlarged and obstructing access to the adenoid during an adenoidectomy operation, or the physician suspects the presence of a tonsil tumor.

Procedure

Under general anesthesia, the ear-nose-throat (ENT) surgeon holds the mouth open and pulls the tongue forward to reveal the tonsils. The tonsils are pulled away from the back of the throat and then removed by being cut away. Bleeding is controlled, and often the cut heals naturally without stitches.

Aftercare

Patients are generally observed in the hospital for between 12 and 24 hours after surgery. Removal of the tonsils is not known to cause any problems later in life.

Review Date: 9/10/2023  

Reviewed By: Josef Shargorodsky, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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