Your child needs an operation to take out his tonsils. Your child may also need an operation to take out his adenoids at the same time. These operations are called a tonsillectomy and an adenoidectomy.
What are tonsils
Your child needs an operation to take out his tonsils. Your child may also need an operation to take out his adenoids at the same time. These operations are called a tonsillectomy and an adenoidectomy.
What are tonsils?
The tonsils are small pieces of tissue at the back of the mouth, beside the tongue. They help fight germs. There is 1 tonsil on either side of the throat.
What are adenoids?
Adenoids are lumps of tissue up behind the nose. You cannot see your child's adenoids when looking in the mouth.
Removing enlarged tonsils and adenoids
After many infections, the tonsils and adenoids often become enlarged. This can interfere with breathing. Enlarged adenoids can also affect the tubes that connect the middle ears and the back of the nose. When tonsils or adenoids become too large, they may need to be taken out.
Removing the tonsils and adenoids improves breathing. It may also help your child have fewer ear and throat infections.
An otolaryngologist/head and neck surgeon will do the operation. An otolaryngologist (say: OH-toe-LAR-ing-GOLL-oh-jist) is a doctor who specializes in problems with the ears, nose, and throat.
Before the operation
Several hours before the surgery, your child will need to stop eating and drinking.
The doctor or nurse will tell you when your child must stop eating and drinking.
Write this information down here:
- The date and time of the operation:
- When your child must stop eating:
- When your child must stop drinking clear fluids:
- Other things to remember:
Surgery to remove the tonsils and adenoids
The doctor will give your child a special "sleep medicine" called a general anesthetic. This will make sure your child sleeps through the operation and does not feel any pain.
While your child is asleep, the doctor will remove the tonsils through your child's mouth. If your child is also having an adenoidectomy, the doctor will take out your child's adenoids at the same time. The doctor will then stop the bleeding. Your child will not get stitches.
The operation usually takes from 45 to 60 minutes.
You will be able to see your child as soon as he is fully awake
A volunteer from the Surgical Waiting Room will bring you to see your child.
After the operation
After the operation, we will take your child to the recovery room, also called the Post Anesthetic Care Unit (PACU). This is where your child will wake up. Your child will stay in PACU for about 1 hour. We will then move your child to a room on the nursing unit.
Your child will be closely monitored on the nursing unit
- Your child will be encouraged to take fluids by mouth. Your child will start with sips of clear fluids (liquids you can see through, such as water or apple juice), ice chips, or freezies. Once your child can take sips, he can then drink liquids from a cup.
- Your child’s temperature will be taken often.
- Your child will still have an intravenous (IV) tube in his arm. When it is no longer needed for fluids or medicine, it will be taken out.
- Your child will be given pain medicine when needed.
- The nursing staff will watch your child for vomiting (throwing up) or bleeding.
- The nurses will tell the doctor if there are any complications.
- When your child is fully awake, he can get up with help to use the washroom.
- Your child may throw up thick, brownish-coloured liquid if he swallowed some blood during or after the operation. This is normal. If your child keeps throwing up, we will give him medicine through the IV to help settle his upset stomach.
Managing your child's pain after the operation
When your child has pain after the operation, he will be given pain medicine:
- by a liquid to swallow
- if he cannot swallow the pain medicine, we can give your child a suppository that goes into your child's rectum
These are ways you can help make your child more comfortable:
- humidified air to keep the throat moist
- raising your child’s head and shoulders to help reduce swelling
Usually just one day in the hospital
Most children are ready to go home from the hospital about 6 to 8 hours after the operation. Sometimes, children need to stay for a longer time.
You should take your child home in a car or a taxi. For your child's comfort and safety, do not take your child home by bus or subway.
Caring for your child at home
Your child will have some pain after the operation.
Your child will have a sore throat. He may also have an earache, which is caused by the sore throat. Five or 6 days after the operation, your child's sore throat or earache may get worse for a short time. This is normal.
Your child may also have a stiff neck. If this becomes bad, call your doctor.
Follow these instructions when your child goes home after the procedure.
You may give your child medicine for pain.
You may receive a prescription for pain medication before you leave the hospital. Follow the dosage instructions give to you by the pharmacist. Although these prescription pain medications can be beneficial, they are also potentially very dangerous i