Adenoid removal

Adenoidectomy; Removal of adenoid glands

Adenoid removal is surgery to take out the adenoid glands. The adenoid glands sit behind your nose above the roof of your mouth in the nasopharynx. Air passes over these glands when you take a breath.

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The adenoids are often taken out at the same time as the tonsils (tonsillectomy).

Adenoid removal is also called adenoidectomy. The procedure is most often done in children.

Description

Your child will be given general anesthesia before surgery. This means your child will be asleep and unable to feel pain.

During surgery:

The surgeon places a small tool into your child's mouth to keep it open.
The surgeon removes the adenoid glands using a spoon-shaped tool (curette). Or, another tool that helps cut away soft tissue is used.
Some surgeons use electricity to heat the tissue, remove it, and stop bleeding. This is called electrocautery. Another method uses radiofrequency (RF) energy to do the same thing. This is called coblation. A cutting tool called a microdebrider can also be used to remove the adenoid tissue.
Absorbent material called packing material may also be used to control bleeding.

Your child will stay in the recovery room after surgery. You will be allowed to take your child home when your child is awake and can breathe easily, cough, and swallow. In most cases, this will be a few hours after surgery.

Why the Procedure Is Performed

A health care provider may recommend this procedure if:

Enlarged adenoids are blocking your child's airway. Symptoms in your child can include heavy snoring, problems breathing through the nose, and episodes of not breathing during sleep.
Enlarged adenoids
The adenoids are lymph tissues that sit in your upper airway between your nose and the back of your throat. They are similar to the tonsils. Enlarge...
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Your child has chronic ear infections that occur often, continue despite use of antibiotics, cause hearing loss, or cause your child to miss a lot of school days.

Adenoidectomy may also be recommended if your child has tonsillitis that keeps coming back.

The adenoids normally shrink as children grow older. Adults rarely need to have them removed.

Risks

Risks of any anesthesia are:

Reactions to medicines
Breathing problems
Breathing problems
Breathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough air
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Risks of any surgery are:

Bleeding
Bleeding
Bleeding is the loss of blood. Bleeding may be:Inside the body (internal)Outside the body (external)Bleeding may occur:Inside the body when blood le...
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Infection

Before the Procedure

Your provider will tell you how to prepare your child for this procedure.

A week before the surgery, do not give your child any medicine that thins the blood unless your doctor says to do so. Such medicines include aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin).

The night before the surgery, your child should have nothing to eat or drink after midnight. This includes water.

You will be told what medicines your child should take on the day of surgery. Have your child take the medicine with a sip of water.

After the Procedure

Your child will go home on the same day as surgery. Complete recovery takes about 1 to 2 weeks.

Follow instructions on how to care for your child at home.

Outlook (Prognosis)

After this procedure, most children:

Breathe better through the nose
Have fewer and milder sore throats
Have fewer ear infections

In rare cases, adenoid tissue may grow back. This does not cause problems most of the time. However, it can be removed again if necessary.

Open References

References

Schilder AGM, Rosenfeld RM, Venekamp RP. Acute otitis media and otitis media with effusion. In: Flint PW, Francis HW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 199.

Told TN. Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. In: Fowler GC, ed. Pfenninger and Fowler's Procedures for Primary Care. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 66.

Wetmore RF. Tonsils and adenoids. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 411.

After your child's tonsil or adenoid surgery
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Before a child's tonsil or adenoid surgery
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Adenoid removal
Animation

Adenoids - illustration
Adenoids are masses of tissue located high on the posterior wall of the pharynx. They are made up of lymphatic tissue, which trap and destroy pathogens in the air that enter the nasopharynx.
Adenoids
illustration
Adenoid removal - Series
Presentation

<strong>Adenoid removal - Series</strong><p>The adenoids (lymphatic tissue in the back of the throat), along with the tonsils, comprise the Waldeyer ring.</p>

<strong>Indications</strong><p>Adenoidectomy may be recommended when enlarged adenoids are blocking the airway, which may be suspected if the child snores excessively; has trouble breathing through the nose (nasal obstruction); or has episodes of not breathing during sleep (sleep apnea.) Adenoidectomy may be recommended if the child has chronic ear infections that interfere with childs education; persists despite antibiotic treatment; recurs 5 or more times in a year; or recurs 3 or more times a year during a two-year period. Adenoidectomy may be recommended if the child has chronic or repeated bouts of tonsillitis. The adenoids normally shrink as the child reaches adolescence and adenoidectomy is rarely needed after reaching the teenage years.</p>

<strong>Procedure</strong><p>While the child is deep asleep and pain-free (using general anesthesia), a breathing tube is inserted into the child's mouth and throat. A small instrument is inserted into the mouth to prop it open. The adenoid tissue is removed and bleeding is controlled.</p>

<strong>Aftercare</strong><p>Adenoidectomy is usually done as an outpatient procedure. Complete recovery takes 1 to 2 weeks. While healing, the child may have a stuffy nose, nasal drainage, and a sore throat. Soft, cool foods and drinks may help relieve throat discomfort.</p>

After your child's tonsil or adenoid surgery
Animation

Before a child's tonsil or adenoid surgery
Animation

Adenoid removal
Animation

Adenoids - illustration
Adenoids are masses of tissue located high on the posterior wall of the pharynx. They are made up of lymphatic tissue, which trap and destroy pathogens in the air that enter the nasopharynx.
Adenoids
illustration
Adenoid removal - Series
Presentation

A Closer Look

Talking to your MD

Self Care

Tests for Adenoid removal

Review Date: 11/29/2022

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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Health Library

Adenoid removal

Tonsillectomy

Description

Why the Procedure Is Performed

Enlarged adenoids

Risks

Breathing problems

Bleeding

Before the Procedure

After the Procedure

Care for your child at home