Removal of Tonsils and Adenoids

Children with frequent sore throats, ear infections, swallowing or breathing difficulties related to enlarged tonsils and/or adenoids may be candidates for this surgery. Tonsils and adenoids are located in the back of the throat. The surgery is done under general anesthesia and on an outpatient basis. Once your child is drinking an adequate amount of fluid, he will be allowed to go home. Encouraging your child to drink abundant fluids will help speed the recovery process. A sore throat, bad breath and mild earache are common for a few days following tonsil removal. The removal site may appear as white patches for seven to 10 days while the area heals. Your child may have a low grade fever (99 to 100 degrees) for a few days following surgery if he is not taking adequate fluids. You will want to call your doctor if the fever is greater than 101 degrees for more than 24 hours. Bleeding is not common but may occur. Children are at highest risk for bleeding in the first 24 hours and then again seven to 10 days after surgery. Watching for symptoms such as vomiting or coughing up a large amount of blood is important and would be an indication to call your physician. Do not give your child Aspirin, Motrin, Advil, Ibuprofen or Aleve for one week prior to or after surgery as these can promote bleeding. Your child will go home on a prescription pain medicine. Your child should engage in low to mild activity for about a week and they should anticipate missing a week from school. They should also refrain from participating in P.E., team sports and running for about 10 to 14 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: Will my child be affected by the loss of their tonsils?
  A: No, your child will not experience any adverse effects from the removal of these organs.

• Q: What can my child eat?
  A: Your doctor will have specific recommendations regarding your child's diet. In general he or she should eat soft foods for the first two to four days such as jello, pudding, popsicles, macaroni and cheese, applesauce and eggs, then progress gradually to regular food. For the first two weeks, they should avoid scratchy foods such as chips, crust on toast, spicy foods and citrus foods/juices, which can irritate the surgical area.

Questions for Your Doctor Regarding this Surgery

• What risks and benefits are involved with the surgery?

• Will the problem return after surgery

• How long will the procedure take?

After Surgery

Anesthesia is a concern for anyone undergoing a surgical procedure. Nausea and restlessness are common occurrences after surgery and do go away as the medication wears off. Many times the pediatric nurse will recommend letting your child sleep until he awakens on his own. After any of these surgeries your child's nurse will be checking their pain level frequently. Depending on your child's age and level of awareness after surgery, the following tool, called the Wong-Baker Facial Expression Scale, may be used to assess their comfort level. (Hint: a favorite toy brought from home may help with comfort.)

We realize that each surgery and recovery is unique and our team of professionals are here to guide you and your child through their entire surgical experience. You can be assured that we will provide quality care and do what we can to make your child's recovery more comfortable. If you have any special needs during your hospitalization please let one of our professionals know.

Information compiled by Washburn University nursing students and approved by the the Stormont-Vail Pediatric Unit staff.

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