Tonsillectomies are usually done as an outpatient procedure, which means patients can go home the day of the surgery. Don't let that fool you into thinking that the next day will have you back to the normal routine, though. You or your child will also probably feel tired and want to sleep. At any age, keep in mind that there's an increased risk of bleeding seven to 10 days after surgery, so you should continue to take it easy until then.
Activity should be limited for two weeks or until your healthcare provider says it's OK. The actual tonsillectomy will take about a year to completely heal. There are some planned and unplanned circumstances that may require spending the night in the hospital.
If you or your child have any complications during surgery, like failure to maintain oxygen levels or bleeding that's difficult to control, you'll be admitted to the hospital.
While these instances are relatively rare, they do occur. When choosing a surgical center, look for one that has hospital-admitting privileges—just in case. Your healthcare provider will know if you or your child are at increased risk for having complications or require extra monitoring during surgery. Common reasons for a planned post-operative hospitalization include:. Your child's healthcare provider will likely recommend that he or she stay home from school for at least one week after being discharged.
Adults will probably need to take at least 10 days and often two weeks off from work, depending on the type of work they do and how they feel. For example, if you spend a lot of time on the phone, your throat may be too sore and your voice too weak to do your job effectively. Air travel in the first two weeks post-op isn't advised.
You shouldn't be discouraged if your recovery time doesn't fit into these approximations; everyone heals at their own rate. If you have any underlying health issues, such as diabetes, or you have a weakened immune system, you'll likely take longer to recover. During recuperation, call your healthcare provider or your child's pediatrician about any bright red bleeding, fever, or uncontrollable pain. These symptoms can indicate a problem that requires emergency medical attention.
Bleeding is the most common complication after a tonsillectomy. Nausea and vomiting may also occur after the procedure. Post-op pain, which makes eating and drinking difficult, can lead to dehydration, problems swallowing, and weight loss. The longer recovery is due to the fact that adult tonsils are harder to remove, which may be a result of scar tissue building up on tonsils every time you have a throat infection.
It depends on how your child is recovering. Strenuous and high-contact sports or activities should be limited for a little longer, though. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life.
Patel A. Hackensack Meridien Health. Iran J Otorhinolaryngol. Tonsil and Adenoid Surgery. Tonsils are lumps of tissue on both sides of the back of the throat that help the immune system protect the body from infections. Tonsillectomy tahn-suh-LEK-tuh-mee is one of the most common surgeries kids and teens get. But they're done less often than in the past because large tonsils may shrink on their own over time. Your health care provider will let you know if your child should stop taking any medicine in the week or two before the surgery.
You'll also be told when your child should stop eating and drinking because the stomach must be empty on the day of the procedure. Surgery, no matter how common or simple, can be scary for kids. Help prepare your child by talking about what to expect. An ear, nose, and throat ENT surgeon will do the surgery while your child is under general anesthesia. This means an anesthesiologist will keep your child safely and comfortably asleep during the procedure.
The surgery is done through your child's open mouth. There are no cuts through the skin and no visible scars. Usually, parents can stay with their child until the anesthesiologist gives medicine. Then you'll go to a waiting area until the surgery is over. Your child will wake up in the recovery area. Many kids go home the same day, though some may stay overnight.
In general, kids under 3 years old and those with serious sleep problems like apnea usually stay overnight. Depending on the type of surgery done, recovery after a tonsillectomy may take a week or more. Expect some pain and discomfort after the tonsils are removed, which can make it hard for kids to eat and drink.
Sometimes children get dehydrated from not drinking enough when they go home, and may need to come back to the hospital for fluids. Do not give your child any natural supplements or homeopathic therapy for 10 days before the surgery. If you must give your child any medicines in the 10 days before surgery, write them down and bring the list to the surgery appointment. Your child will be asked to change clothes into a hospital gown.
As the parent or legal guardian, you will be asked to sign a consent form before the anesthesia is given. If you wish, you may stay with your child until just prior to the sleep medication being given, and then you will be taken to the waiting room.
Your child may bring along a "comfort" item — such as a favorite stuffed animal or "blankie" — to hold during the surgery. Going to sleep If your child is very scared or upset, the doctor might give a special medication to help him or her relax.
This medication is flavored and takes effect in about 10 to 15 minutes. Young children get their sleep medication through a "space mask" that carries air mixed with medication. Your child may choose a favorite scent to flavor the air flowing through the mask. There are no shots or needles used while your child is still awake. Older children may choose between getting their medication through the mask or directly into a vein through an intravenous IV line.
While asleep While your child is asleep, his or her heart rate, blood pressure, temperature and blood oxygen level will be checked continuously. To keep your child asleep during the surgery, he or she might be given anesthetic medication by mask, through the IV, or both. The surgery itself will take about 30 minutes to 1 hour. Waking up When the surgery is over, the medications will be stopped and your child will be moved to the recovery room.
You will be called to the bedside so that you can be there as your child wakes up. It is OK to hold your child in your arms or on your lap. Your child will need to stay in the recovery room to be watched until he or she is alert and his or her vital signs are stable. The length of time your child will spend in the recovery room may be different from other patients because some children take longer than others to wake up after anesthesia.
Children coming out of anesthesia have a variety of reactions. Your child might cry, be fussy or confused, feel sick to his or her stomach, or vomit. These reactions are normal and will go away as the anesthesia wears off.
Your child will have no memory of the surgery. In the recovery room, he or she will be encouraged to drink or to eat an ice pop. If your child snores loudly or has difficulty breathing after the surgery, he or she will need to be monitored more closely and may need to be admitted to the hospital.
Going home Most children will go home on the same day as surgery, but very young children under 3 years and children with bad sleep apnea will stay in the hospital overnight. Fluids are important and are the best thing to start with after surgery. The pain sometimes makes a child unwilling to eat, so it might help to give your child pain medication a half-hour before asking him or her to eat. A nurse will call you 24 hours after the surgery to check how your child is doing. Care at Home In the 14 days after the surgery, your child may get a cold or other infection more easily than usual.
Friends and family who are or might be sick should stay away. These changes are normal, but if your child continues to "baby" his or her voice for several weeks after surgery, talk to the pediatrician or ENT doctor.
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