When is tonsillectomy necessary?

Most cases of tonsillectomy are performed under anesthesia. Surgery is indicated when there are more than 4 episodes of acute tonsillitis per year, inflammation with abscesses, stenosis of the throat, and difficulty breathing.

Dr. Le Tran Quang Minh, Deputy Director of the ENT Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, said that tonsils are lymphoid tissue that produces IgG Immunoglobulin antibodies, which play an important role in protecting the body against pathogens. In some cases, tonsils become infected, not only reducing immunity but also becoming a place where harmful bacteria accumulate.

According to Dr. Minh, tonsillitis is treated medically with antibiotics and anti-infective drugs. Tonsils are indicated for surgical removal when:

- Patients have more than 4 episodes of acute tonsillitis in a year.

- Tonsils that cause local complications such as tonsillitis with abscess, are indicated for removal after stable treatment through the abscess.

- Enlarged tonsils cause narrowing of the throat, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, especially in children.

- Cases of tonsil tumors or tonsil cancer.

If this patient does not undergo surgery, it can lead to dangerous complications such as inflammation, local abscess around the tonsils, pharyngitis, laryngitis... Patients with tonsillitis infected with Streptoccoccus β hemolytic bacteria can cause myocarditis, arthritis, nephritis, autoimmune reactions, damage to the heart valves, otitis media... Unresected purulent tonsillitis can cause bad breath. In children, repeated tonsillitis is the cause of respiratory diseases or other disorders such as anorexia, mental retardation, bedwetting.

Most tonsillectomy surgeries are now performed under anesthesia. Illustration: washingtonpost

Most tonsillectomy surgeries are now performed under general anesthesia, and patients recover after about 15-20 minutes. In the past, due to the lack of adequate anesthetics, patients were only anesthetized and did not need to recover after surgery, but they had to endure more pain during surgery, especially patients with poor mental health who were often very stressed. Both general anesthesia and anesthesia can have complications due to the patient's constitution, illness, allergies to anesthetics or anesthesia or equipment, operating techniques, etc., so doctors need to consider and evaluate carefully when performing.

Surgery is contraindicated in patients with poorly controlled systemic diseases such as blood clotting disorders, high blood pressure, heart failure..., women during menstruation, pregnancy.Tonsil surgery using a plasma knife only takes about 5-7 minutes, is less painful and causes less blood loss than using the conventional cutting method (takes about 30 minutes).

After surgery, the patient needs to drink cold milk on the first day. On the second day, you can eat thin porridge and soup; on days 3-7, eat soft, cold noodles, vermicelli, rice noodles..., avoid hot and spicy foods. From days 7-10, eat soft rice and thick porridge and then you can eat and drink normally again. Take medicine, return for check-ups, and follow the doctor's schedule for rest.

Doctor Minh recommends that to prevent tonsillitis and limit recurrence, it is necessary to keep the nose and throat warm, especially during the changing seasons and cold weather, limit direct contact with polluted environments, avoid foods that are too hot or too cold, and maintain good oral hygiene. See a specialist if you have unusual symptoms such as fever of 39-40 degrees, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, drooling, red, enlarged, painful tonsils, mucus and pus from the tonsil cavity, swollen uvula...

“The tonsils are an organ that produces antibodies against invading bacteria. If the surgery is not performed correctly or unnecessarily, it can reduce immunity and harm the body,” Dr. Minh analyzed. Depending on each case, the doctor will have specific considerations about the decision to perform surgery.

According to VNE