What is the best way to remove tonsils? Removal of tonsils for chronic tonsillitis: reviews. Is it necessary to remove tonsils for chronic tonsillitis? Preparing to have your tonsils removed

The accumulation of lymphoid tissue in the throat between the palatine arches is called tonsils or tonsils, the main role of which is to protect the entire body from harmful microbes.
In other words, the tonsils are the first guard post of the immune system, as they neutralize any infection that comes with food, water or air.

Clinical picture

When a person’s health is weakened, and there are a large number of bacteria in the mouth, the tonsils may not cope with their task, which will result in their inflammation, redness, enlargement, and, as a result, sore throat.

The main treatment for inflamed tonsils is conservative therapy (it is written about tablets and furatsilin for gargling). If, at the end of the course of treatment, the disease has not subsided, then a conversation begins about the advisability of surgical intervention.

Not long ago, researchers found that removal of the tonsils is not always indicated for the patient, because they prevent the penetration of a significant portion of bacteria into the lungs, and also contribute to the synthesis of cells involved in blood circulation.

Before surgery, you must carefully weigh all the pros and cons of this operation.

In the USA, special studies were carried out, as a result of which it was established that the recesses in the tonsils are a “laboratory” where the natural analysis of substances from the air and food takes place, and the body’s reaction to the most common pathogens is developed.

Just a few years ago in the United States of America, absolutely all children had their tonsils removed, and a more thorough study of this issue led to the conclusion that almost every operation performed was optional.

The consequence of such a surgical intervention was a sharp decrease in the resistance of a healthy body to infections and various diseases. You can read about this in a useful article.

Who should have tonsils removed?, and who can avoid this procedure?

Surgery is necessary for those people who:

It should be noted that surgery to remove tonsils is contraindicated for children under five years of age, since their immunity cannot cope with such stress, and there is also a possibility of food allergies or dysbacteriosis.

Arguments against deletion

Protection against infections

As is already known, tonsils form special proteins that protect certain human tissues and organs from harmful microbes, prevent diseases of the upper respiratory tract (pharyngitis, bronchitis, etc.) and the development of allergies.

In addition, researchers in this field have found that patients with tonsils removed are eight times more likely to have problems with the digestive tract and lungs.

Cancer protection

People with tonsils are much less likely to develop upper respiratory tract cancer. Scientists confirmed this fact by conducting one experiment: animals with cancer were injected with protective protein compounds that are produced by the tonsils.

As a result, vaccinated individuals survived significantly more often. American researchers have noticed that patients who have their tonsils removed are three times more likely to get cancer.

Possible complications

Surgery to remove tonsils can sometimes lead to consequences such as pharyngitis or catarrh of the respiratory tract, atrophy of the mucous membrane.

Arguments for carrying out the operation

Doctor's orders

A qualified specialist will never refer a patient to have tonsils removed without serious reasons.

Stopping frequent sore throats

A person suffering from inflammation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx 5-7 times a year must consult a doctor to have his tonsils removed.

The result of such an operation is good health and a significant reduction in the incidence of sore throat.

For greater effect, the patient may be prescribed rinsing with special solutions, the use of immunostimulants, etc.

Normalization of breathing

Significantly enlarged tonsils, as a rule, make breathing difficult, and this problem can only be dealt with through surgery. In addition, the patient will get rid of snoring (gymnastics and video).

It should be remembered that the doctor prescribes removal of the tonsils only in the most extreme situations, when conservative treatment does not have a positive effect on the body.

In addition to the listed arguments for carrying out such operations, there are also a number of contraindications:

  • poor blood clotting,
  • presence of heart and kidney problems,
  • diabetes,
  • severe form of hypertension,
  • tuberculosis,
  • acute infectious diseases,
  • pregnancy.

Conclusion

In order not to suffer, choosing between the pros and cons, you need to start taking care of your body in time. Exercising, following a daily routine and proper nutrition are the foundations of good health and well-being.

In this video, the doctor will tell you whether you should remove your tonsils or not.

The tonsils are projections of tissue at the back of the mouth that contain clusters of immune system cells. The correct anatomical name for the tonsils is the palatine tonsils.

Why are tonsils needed?

The tonsils are only a small part of the system of lymphoid tissues scattered throughout the body. Masses similar to palatine tonsils are present in the back of the nose, on the back of the tongue and in the small intestine.

The palatine tonsils are involved in the fight against infections, but do not play a special role in this process. That is, after removal of the tonsils, a person will not get sick more often, since the rest of the immune system will continue to function normally.

Who needs to have tonsils removed?

Inflammation of the tonsils is called tonsillitis or tonsillitis. For unknown reasons, some people get sore throat often and severely.

Tonsillectomy - surgery to remove tonsils - reduces the frequency and severity of tonsillitis. The only problem is that this procedure is very unpleasant, risky and expensive. Therefore, tonsillectomy should be done only if the benefit outweighs the harm.

According to modern clinical recommendations, it is worth removing tonsils if:

  1. During a previous episode of tonsillitis, the person developed serious complications, such as jugular vein thrombosis, blood poisoning, and peritonsillar abscess.
  2. Each time a sore throat occurs with severe suppuration of the tonsils, severe sore throat and high fever. At the same time, the patient is allergic to various antibiotics, which makes it difficult for him to choose a medicine.
  3. If a child has PFAPA syndrome (episodes of tonsillitis are repeated very often, every 3-6 weeks, and are accompanied by severe fever, sore throat, enlarged lymph nodes in the neck and aphthous stomatitis).
  4. The patient often suffers from tonsillitis (more than 7 times a year), and each episode is accompanied by at least one of these symptoms: temperature above 38 ° C, significant enlargement and tenderness of the lymph nodes in the neck, severe suppuration of the tonsils, and analysis for GABHS infection GABHS infection gives a positive result.
  5. Some experts recommend removing the tonsils if a child develops neuropsychiatric disorders due to a streptococcal infection. These are rare conditions, and it is not known for sure whether surgery helps in such cases.
  6. If a child has difficulty breathing at night because the tonsils are very enlarged Permanently enlarged tonsils (tonsils) in children: answers to basic questions.
  7. If a person suffers from tonsillitis - round, foul-smelling deposits on the tonsils. Removing the tonsils may be the only long-term solution in this case.

When it is not necessary to remove tonsils

Removing tonsils can cause serious complications. On the other hand, in 20–50% of patients, sore throats become less frequent and milder over time. Therefore, many experts recommend delaying tonsillectomy for at least 12 months if:

  1. The patient has had fewer than seven episodes of sore throat in the past year.
  2. Over the past two years, the person has had fewer than five episodes of sore throat each year.
  3. Over the past three years, the patient has had fewer than three episodes of tonsillitis annually.

Is it possible to do without removing tonsils?

If the main problem is frequent or very severe sore throats, there are almost no alternative solutions.

Symptomatic treatment Evidence-based patient guidance for issues related to acute pain and sore throat and allow more or less qualitative control of rare episodes of angina, but are poorly suited if you have to be treated frequently or if the risk of complications is high.

As is known, treatment Guideline for the management of acute sore throat antibiotics only slightly accelerate recovery from sore throat and do not provide complete protection against the development of purulent complications.

Statements about the benefits of various traditional methods of treatment (the use of honey, propolis, gargling, etc.) for sore throat are completely unfounded.

How is the operation performed?

To perform the operation, you need to go to the hospital for 1–3 days. Preoperative preparation and the procedure itself take 1–1.5 hours. The actual removal of the tonsils lasts about 10–15 minutes.

During the operation the patient is under sedation. This is a type that eliminates pain and most of the unpleasant memories, but leaves the person conscious so that he can fulfill the surgeon's requests. In children, the operation can also be performed under general anesthesia.

Many patients are allowed to go home the day after surgery.

For the patient, the most unpleasant part is the recovery period. In the first 7–10 days after surgery, the pain in the throat is very severe. At this time, all patients need quality pain relief. Not only medications will help with this, but also cold food, including.

Children need especially careful care. It is necessary to ensure that the child receives sufficient pain relief as recommended by the doctor. In addition, it is important that the child drinks at least 1 liter of fluid per day and eats at least a little. So give your baby everything he loves. The quantity of food during this period is more important than its quality. Well, it’s desirable Tonsil removal in children and adults so that the food is soft, without sharp edges, cold or slightly warm.

What complications may there be?

Removing tonsils is a relatively safe operation. But sometimes complications still happen Clinical Practice Guideline: Tonsillectomy in Children.

According to one study conducted in England, approximately 1 in 34,000 operations results in the death of the patient.

Severe bleeding after surgery occurs in 1-5 patients out of 100. Other serious complications, such as a fracture of the lower jaw, severe burns, and damage to teeth, are rare.

For unknown reasons, some patients have persistent neck pain after surgery.

24 hours after surgery, the risk of severe bleeding becomes negligible.

conclusions

There are certain clinical indications for tonsil removal. In other cases, surgery may do more harm than good.

If you have been advised to remove your tonsils, ask why exactly and what results you can expect.

And read about making medical decisions and communicating with your doctor.

Frequent sore throats against the background of reduced immunity often lead to the formation of chronic tonsillitis. Many people associate this diagnosis with tonsil removal. However, any qualified doctor will confirm that there are no extra organs in the body, be it tonsils or appendicitis. Therefore, surgical intervention should be approached carefully, weighing all the pros and cons.

Why are tonsils needed?

The tonsils are lymphoid tissue located between the palatine arches. The tonsils are part of a kind of lymphoid ring in the throat. It is this that delays the infection entering the body with air and food. When the immune system is weakened, the tonsils cease to be “defenders”; in the event of a serious attack of infection, the tonsils become inflamed and the doctor diagnoses “acute tonsillitis”.

Everything is not so scary if a sore throat is an isolated case and is treated in a timely manner. Frequent inflammation of the throat can form chronic tonsillitis, while lymphoid cells proliferate and the tonsils increase in size. Then the tonsils cease to protect against bacteria and viruses, turning into a chronic breeding ground for infection.

Chronic tonsillitis, as a rule, develops in children; children often suffer from colds. However, adults are not protected from this disease; untimely or improper treatment of tonsillitis can lead to the formation of complications against the background of already acquired diseases.

An increase in the size of the tonsils can cause difficulty breathing; in adults, chronic tonsillitis is often accompanied by snoring. As with any chronic inflammatory disease, a stable increase in temperature can be observed. In this case, patients complain of general malaise, pain when eating, and difficulty swallowing.

When is it necessary to remove tonsils?

Previously, removal of the tonsils was performed in almost every patient with chronic tonsillitis, especially if the proliferation (hypertrophy) of the tonsils was grade II-III.

It is believed that the tonsils function only up to 5 years of age; after that, the tonsils are practically useless. An operation to remove the tonsils 10 years ago was prescribed from the age of 3; now the removal is performed on adults and children over 5 years of age.

However, modern doctors are not so categorical regarding this diagnosis and, if possible, use conservative treatment methods. Now pharmaceuticals offer a wide range of medications that can significantly reduce the size of the tonsils, and in combination with physiotherapy, minimize them.

It is necessary to remove tonsils if:

  • a person suffers from tonsillitis more than 4 times a year;
  • against the background of chronic tonsillitis, pathological processes occur (rheumatism, kidney damage, liver damage);
  • tonsillitis is complicated by the development of abscesses, the inflammatory process extends beyond the tonsils;
  • there is no effect in the treatment of chronic tonsillitis using conservative methods.

Attention: Whether to remove tonsils is decided solely by an ENT doctor, based on the external picture of inflammation in the throat, the state of the body’s immune forces and the advisability of conservative treatment.

Removal options

Removal of the tonsils can be partial (tonsillotomy) or complete (tonsillectomy). In addition to conventional surgery, hardware techniques are used, the main advantage of which is less trauma, and therefore a shorter recovery period.

Methods of tonsillotomy

Many adults have witnessed the surgical removal of tonsils in their children: the child’s fear of the operation, crying and screaming, hoarse voice. How do modern doctors remove tonsils? Modern technologies make it possible to perform surgery to remove tonsils as painlessly and less traumatically for the patient’s psyche.

The tonsils are partially removed to preserve their basic function and facilitate breathing in cases of severe hypertrophy and in the presence of contraindications to the complete removal of the tonsils. Tonsillotomy is performed in the following ways:

  • cryosurgery (freezing with liquid nitrogen);
  • using an infrared or more modern carbon laser (cauterizing effect).

The surface of the tonsil treated under local anesthesia dies and is subsequently removed. These techniques are virtually painless and the likelihood of bleeding is very low. However, after the operation, short-term sore throat is possible due to partial removal of tonsil tissue. Sometimes the temperature rises after surgery.

Attention: When performing tonsillotomy, the ability of lymphoid tissue to grow should be taken into account. Some time after the operation, the tonsils may increase again to a large size. In order to prevent subsequent enlargement of the tonsils, regular courses of conservative therapy are necessary.

Methods of tonsillectomy

In case of complicated tonsillitis or an advanced chronic process, they resort to complete removal of the tonsils. During tonsillectomy, all lymphoid tissue of the tonsil is removed along with the connective tissue capsule. If it is necessary to completely remove the tonsils, the doctor decides which of the following methods is most appropriate in this case.

Surgical intervention

As before, surgical removal is performed with a wire loop and surgical scissors. However, modern surgeons perform tonsillectomy under general anesthesia; previously only local anesthesia was used. The disadvantages of surgical removal of tonsils are:

  • long recovery period (up to 2 weeks);
  • bleeding may be quite extensive;
  • The use of general anesthesia is not always justified.

Surgery to remove the tonsils, often practiced in Soviet times, is fraught with very serious complications. Just 2 mm from the tonsils there are large blood vessels, accidental damage to which can cause severe bleeding and be life-threatening. In this case, the lymphoid tissue must be completely removed; even a small remnant of it leads to further growth, which reduces the effectiveness of the operation to nothing. Therefore, the surgeon performing such operations must have sufficient experience to remove the tonsils with “jewelry” precision.

Laser destruction

As in the case of partial removal, tonsillectomy is performed using an infrared or carbon laser machine. This is the most gentle way to get rid of tonsils. Operation:

  • performed on an outpatient basis;
  • painless;
  • practically bloodless;
  • minimum time spent under medical supervision (from 2 hours to 1 day);
  • rapid wound healing.

Electrocoagulation

Hypertrophied tonsils are cauterized with high-frequency electric current. As scary as it may sound, the method is practically painless and the likelihood of bleeding is minimal. Sometimes a burn occurs to the healthy tissue surrounding the tonsil, which causes discomfort after surgery.

Contraindications to tonsillectomy:

  • low level of blood clotting (diabetes mellitus);
  • acute stage of infectious diseases;
  • cardiovascular diseases (angina pectoris, severe hypertension, tachycardia);
  • tuberculosis;
  • 6-9 months of pregnancy.

Removal of tonsils: pros and cons

Surgeries on the tonsils have their positive and negative sides, which is why the attending physician’s decision to get rid of the tonsils must be balanced and calculated.

The positive effect of the operation is beyond doubt:

  • the risk of complications (renal, cardiovascular, etc.) disappears;
  • the person is not bothered by sore throats;
  • the source of infection disappears;
  • the swallowing process is restored;
  • general strengthening of the body.

However, there are also negative consequences of tonsil removal:

  • possible bleeding during surgery;
  • re-proliferation of lymphoid tissue due to incomplete removal;
  • pharyngitis and bronchitis take the place of sore throats (since the palatine tonsils took on the role of the main “defender” against viruses and bacteria, their absence can lead to infection penetrating deeper into the respiratory tract).

There is an opinion that removal of tonsils negatively affects girls during puberty. Removed tonsils supposedly affect fertility. Such statements are just fiction. The stress that accompanies the operation may have a negative effect, but not the fact of the operation itself.

Important: A patient who is scheduled for surgery to remove tonsils should be familiar with the method of performing it and the possible consequences.

Whether or not to have your tonsils removed is a big decision. It is worth noting: radical and conservative methods of getting rid of tonsils should be accompanied by measures to strengthen the immune system. A list of simple rules that will protect against acute diseases of the tonsils, chronic inflammation and subsequent surgery to remove them:

  • hardening;
  • physical activity;
  • good nutrition (replenishing the lack of vitamins and microelements with complex vitamin preparations);
  • quitting smoking and drinking alcohol.

Treatment of chronic tonsillitis should not end with removal. Only an integrated approach including drugs that stimulate the defenses, physiotherapy and hardening measures will provide lasting immunity and protect against any infections.

Palatine tonsils (tonsils) are small formations in the oral cavity that protect a person from viruses and bacteria. In some cases, they cease to perform their functions, which leads to negative consequences for the body and necessitates surgery to remove the tonsils.

pros

Under the influence of pathogenic factors, the tonsils can become inflamed. This condition is called tonsillitis, the chronic form of which is accompanied by the cessation of the protective activity of the tonsils and their transformation into a source of constant infection and intoxication of the body.

The disease can lead to the following complications:

  • Frequent sore throats.
  • Rheumatic heart defects.
  • Kidney problems (pyelonephritis, kidney failure).
  • Skin rashes of various types.
  • Disorders of the thyroid gland.

Removing tonsils solves the problem of chronic tonsillitis and the risk of developing associated pathologies.

Minuses

Tonsils contribute to the formation of immunity, serve as a filter for the body and a barrier to pathogenic bacteria. After surgery to remove them, the incidence of respiratory tract morbidity increases, especially at a young age. Therefore, doctors consider the removal of the tonsils to be an undesirable and last resort measure, and recommend first trying alternative methods aimed at restoring their function:

  • Rinsing and gargling.
  • Hardening the body to increase immunity.
  • Waiting - in children aged 13-14 years, changes in hormonal levels and connective tissue occur, which can help eliminate the problem on their own.
  • The method of “trimming” (truncation) the tonsils is their partial removal, as a result of which the source of infection is reduced. Over time, the lymphoid tissue that makes up the tonsils grows, and they acquire their normal size.

Indications

  • The development of jugular vein thrombosis or blood poisoning (sepsis) during another sore throat.
  • Tendency to rheumatic diseases - the patient has relatives who have suffered heart or kidney complications associated with group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus.
  • Consistently severe sore throat - with high fever, severe sore throat, profuse suppuration.
  • Failure of conservative treatment - washing the tonsils, courses of antibiotics, physiotherapy do not lead to stable remission.
  • The formation of an abscess in the throat during another sore throat.
  • Allergy to antibiotics due to severe episodes of illness.
  • High frequency of diseases - more than 7 cases of sore throat per year, 5 cases in each of the last 2 years or 3 annual cases in the last 3 years.
  • Excessively enlarged tonsils interfere with normal breathing, which can lead to snoring or sleep apnea.

Contraindications

  • Oncological diseases.
  • AIDS.
  • Blood clotting disorders.
  • Active tuberculosis.
  • Decompensation (last stage) of cardiovascular and pulmonary pathologies.
  • Severe forms of diabetes.
  • Acute infections or exacerbations of chronic diseases.
  • Inflammatory processes in the oral cavity (gingivitis, caries).
  • Pregnancy.

Consequences

Removal of tonsils may result in some postoperative complications:

  • Bleeding usually occurs on the first day after surgery. It is dangerous not only due to blood loss, but also due to its entry into the respiratory tract during sleep, which can lead to asphyxia (suffocation). Minor bleeding that occurs 5-8 days after removal of the tonsils is usually associated with the passage of a scab.
  • The development of infectious and inflammatory processes is typical for weakened patients or when doctor’s orders are not followed.
  • Allergic reactions to anesthetics - to avoid these risks, patients predisposed to allergies are treated with antihistamines before surgery.
  • Burns of mucous membranes and soft tissues can occur with some methods of removing tonsils.

Among the long-term negative consequences of the procedure:

  • Weakening of local cellular immunity - the production of macrophages (cells involved in the fight against bacteria and viruses), which is carried out by the tonsils, stops.
  • Decreased humoral immune response - the production of antibodies to pathogenic microbes, for which gland lymphocytes are responsible, decreases.
  • Penetration of infection into the respiratory tract - the incidence of laryngitis, pharyngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis, including obstructive bronchitis, is increasing.
  • Reduced antiallergic protection - various dermatoses, as well as allergic bronchospasms (bronchial asthma) may occur.

Positive aspects of tonsil removal:

    Elimination of purulent foci in the body.

  • Stopping frequent sore throats.
  • Normalization of breathing.

Operation

Tonsillectomy (removal of the tonsils) is performed on an empty stomach and most often under general anesthesia. During surgery, patients (both adults and children) are usually given an injection of Dexamethasone, a corticosteroid hormone that can reduce the risk of negative consequences of surgery (nausea, vomiting, pain). The operation can be performed in several ways.

Cold removal

It involves the use of surgical instruments (scalpel, wire loop), with the help of which the tonsils are separated from the surrounding tissues. Minor bleeding that occurs when cutting vessels is eliminated with special hemostatic sponges or by manually ligating the vessels. The advantage of the method is a lower likelihood of bleeding after surgery.

"Hot" tonsillectomy

It is performed with special instruments that create a flow of heat that cuts and cauterizes the tonsil tissue. The duration of the procedure and the amount of bleeding are lower than with cold excision, but the wound takes longer to heal due to damage to adjacent tissue, and the risk of subsequent bleeding is higher.

“Hot” methods include:

  • Laser tonsil removal is an operation performed using a laser.
  • Radio wave tonsillectomy - the cutting instrument is a short-wave emitter.
  • Cold plasma treatment – ​​using a stream of ionized gas.
  • Ultrasonic scalpel - involves the use of strong ultrasonic emitters.

Rehabilitation

The recovery period takes about 2-3 weeks, the first few days must be spent in the hospital.

After the operation the following are possible:

  • Minor bleeding - usually stops after 2-3 hours. The patient should lie on his side, spitting secretions into a special bowl.
  • Nausea and vomiting - these conditions can be eliminated with the help of medications.
  • The sensation of a foreign body in the throat is associated with tissue swelling and goes away on its own within a day.
  • An increase in temperature is considered a normal reaction of the body.
  • Sore throat - increases with the cessation of anesthesia, relieved by anesthetics.
  • Voice changes – hoarseness and problems with diction occur due to swelling of the mucous membrane, the effects of medications, and pain. Gradually the situation is returning to normal.
  • Difficulty in nasal breathing - eliminated with drops that relieve swelling.
  • Bad breath - occurs due to the protein fibrin, which covers wounds with a film and promotes their healing. Fibrin plaque disappears after 5-7 days.
  • Pain when turning the neck may persist for several weeks.
  • Specific nutrition – you should not eat food on the first day after surgery. In the next week, food should be soft, liquid or pureed, not hot. Hard, sour, hot and spicy foods, alcohol, and carbonated drinks can irritate the mucous membranes.
  • Compliance with the drinking regime - a few hours after the operation, you can drink some warm or cold water. In the future, even with difficulty swallowing, the volume of fluid consumed should be 1-1.5 liters per day for a child and 1.5-2 liters for an adult.
  • Limitation of activity - physical activity in the first 2 weeks after surgery can cause bleeding.

  • Quitting smoking is recommended until the mucous membrane is completely healed.
  • Refusal of steaming procedures - visiting a bathhouse, sauna, hot bath promotes vasodilation and can cause bleeding.

How are tonsils removed? Is it painful to have tonsils removed? Can the temperature increase after tonsil removal? These and other questions are of most concern to those who need to have their tonsils cut out for one reason or another.

The operation to remove tonsils in medicine is considered the most common manipulation, not very difficult. Previously, in Soviet times, they resorted to it quite often. Currently, specialists are carefully analyzing the current situation and making an informed decision on the advisability of removal. Now doctors are in no hurry to prescribe such surgical intervention, but resort to it only in cases of extreme necessity.

If the tonsils are removed, the body is in some way at risk of weakening the immune system. The tonsils perform a protective function. Only a specialist can really say whether it is necessary to remove the tonsils.

Experts have concluded that the patient's age matters. Removal is not recommended for children, as well as for persons over 40 years of age. We can say that the 40-year mark is a certain threshold that determines the feasibility of the procedure.

Indications for removal

Throat diseases cause a lot of problems to their owner. A person suffers from constant sore throat, which is sometimes difficult to get rid of. They can be especially severe at night, preventing you from getting enough sleep and recuperating. Indications for tonsil removal are as follows:

  • Chronic tonsillitis. This is a serious illness that requires close attention and a responsible attitude. If you are tired of undergoing numerous examinations and endlessly treating chronic tonsillitis, you may want to undergo such an unattractive procedure as tonsil removal. Removing tonsils in itself is a fairly serious decision that must be made consciously and considered from the perspective of a doctor. Persistent sore throat is a reasonable reason to undergo a tonsillectomy. There is no need to postpone the operation until later. You will only exhaust yourself and make your loved ones suffer.
  • Enlarged tonsils. Tonsil removal may be indicated not only for persistent sore throat. Regardless of whether the throat hurts or not, removal of the tonsils is justified if they significantly increase in size. In some, especially critical cases, the tonsils grow so large that they often block the access of oxygen during natural breathing. There is a risk that the patient will at some point simply suffocate when coughing or another exacerbation of the disease.

  • Severe intoxication of the body. Any inflammatory process occurring in the body is dangerous because it slowly poisons it. Intoxication of all organs and systems occurs. This state of affairs cannot be ignored or pretended that it is completely unimportant. Of course, any of us can get sick, but why suffer so much and is it worth enduring systematic pain? Severe intoxication of the body can lead to a decrease in immunity, and this, in turn, threatens with other, no less dangerous consequences.
  • Chronic exacerbation of sore throat. Can a sore throat be a significant indication for surgery? It turns out yes. In the case when the disease visits you very often, then removing the tonsils can be a worthy way out of the situation. The need to frequently take medications, whether painkillers or others (the names do not play any role here, there is no point in naming them), can change the perception of life not for the better. Chronic exacerbation of tonsillitis causes a lot of grief and suffering to its owner. High temperature, severe pain, which is sometimes simply impossible to bear, will significantly worsen the quality of life. If a sore throat recurs more than three times a year, this is a significant indication for cutting out the tonsils.

How to prepare for surgery

Most people need to mentally prepare for having their tonsils removed. It is important to tune in to the process itself: to overcome fear and your own doubts. After all, the condition after the operation will change gradually, and not immediately. In addition, you should not eat food or even drink water for several hours. An adult is able to cope with such a load on his own, but children need supervision. To prepare for surgery, you need to visit the following specialists at the clinic: therapist, dentist, cardiologist. In addition, you will need to take a general blood and urine test and undergo a blood clotting test.

Postoperative period

After the question of whether or not to remove tonsils has been successfully resolved, you should take care of yourself. You need to be prepared for the fact that your voice may change temporarily, and sometimes you may experience discomfort when swallowing. Rehabilitation does not happen as quickly as we often want it to. You should be patient and just wait. Patients often experience prolonged bleeding, which also cannot but worry and excite. Recovery after tonsil removal may take some time, so it is better to take a vacation at your own expense at your place of work or issue a full-fledged sick leave. The postoperative period includes a number of important activities that you must try to follow for a certain amount of time.


Drinking clean water

Life after tonsil removal can feel downright frustrating at some point. Numerous prohibitions do not help to improve your mood, and besides, pain will also periodically make itself felt. What you can do, perhaps without restrictions, is drink clean, cool water. If several hours have already passed after the operation, feel free to drink some water - it will help you recover faster from emotional and physical shock.

Taking a cool shower

During the first few days after the operation, you must refrain from visiting the bathhouse, sauna, and do not sunbathe in the sun. Showers should only be cool, never hot! Otherwise, bleeding that has recently stopped may re-open, leading to serious consequences.

Maintaining Silence

Try to talk less after having your tonsils removed. This is not someone’s whim, but a necessary measure for speedy healing. The ideal option would be to remain completely silent for several hours or even days, and communicate with loved ones using signs. Extroverts will have a slightly harder time than introverts. It’s best to stock up on one or two interesting books during this period and immerse yourself in a fictional world so that you don’t have to get bored for a long time.

Careful oral hygiene

When brushing your teeth, be careful not to damage the area where surgery was performed. Avoid swallowing toothpaste and rinse your mouth carefully. Remember, the water should be slightly cool, not hot. Don't be overzealous about keeping your teeth clean, nor should you avoid it, since microbes living in the mouth can be dangerous to a fresh wound.

What to give up

Many people who have undergone surgery to remove their tonsils are concerned about the question of what can they eat after such an “execution”? It seems like complete blasphemy to eat familiar food. In any case, you will have to change your diet, somehow stand your ground, and not allow your family to pamper you with forbidden foods. In the first days, it is better to resolutely refuse all kinds of trips and visits to cultural events. Firstly, at any moment the temperature may rise, weakness and dizziness may appear. Secondly, your physical condition is unlikely to be conducive to active pastime. Most likely, you will feel tired and want to sleep more. It is unlikely that you will want to receive guests or even perform routine tasks, such as cooking dinner or cleaning the apartment. It is better to postpone all these activities until a more appropriate moment.

Thus, every person should answer the question of whether it is necessary to remove the tonsils only after consulting with a competent specialist. The consequences after tonsil removal are not so critical if the operation itself is carried out in a specialized clinic in compliance with all hygienic and sanitary standards.