Why tonsillectomy is dangerous in adults

The subsequent inflammation of the tonsils causes pain and bad breath, and it can even block the airway. The second reason most children have their tonsils removed is sleep apnea, or the interruption of breathing during sleep. Usually, this is the result of tonsils that are too big for the throat, which causes harmful obstruction.

But sleep apnea can reveal itself at any age, just as the allergies that cause tonsil inflammation can. If adult-onset sleep apnea involving enlarged tonsils is an issue that other allergy treatments cannot address, your doctor may recommend a tonsillectomy to open the airway. Cancer of the tonsils is rare due to the sheer number of juvenile tonsillectomies obviating the possibility, but in people who retain their tonsils, benign or even malignant growths can occur in the tonsils.

Tonsil cancer has been linked to the human papilloma virus, or HPV. In this case, a tonsillectomy is necessary to stop the spread of cancerous tissue throughout the throat and related areas.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Lalwani AK. Management of adenotonsillar disease.

McGraw Hill; Accessed Oct. Mitchell RB, et al. Clinical practice guideline: Tonsillectomy in children Update. Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery. Messner AH. Tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy in children: Postoperative care and complications. Kliegman RM, et al. Tonsils and adenoids. In: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. Elsevier; One in 10 went to an emergency room as a result. Tonsils are clusters of tissue in the throat that are part of the lymphatic system.

They can become swollen with infections and can interfere with breathing. Children commonly have surgery to remove swollen tonsils that cause sleep problems, and they tend to have easier recoveries than adults, which is something most ear, nose and throat doctors already know. Surgically removing the tonsils can help adults who have repeated cases of strep throat each year or bad sleep apnea.

But for adults, recovery isn't always as easy as patients expect. The researchers examined 36, cases of adult outpatient tonsillectomy in a nationwide insurance database and identified patents who had a record of a health problem one, two or four weeks later that may have been related to the surgery. It is very important to tell us if you have any unusual bleeding or bruising problems, or if this type of problem might run in your family. You will be asleep under general anaesthetic. We take the tonsils out through the mouth, and then stop the bleeding.

This takes about 30 minutes. Surgery may often be performed as a day case procedure, but sometimes if you live far from the hospital or have any conditions increasing the risks of bleeding you may be asked to stay overnight.

Either way, your surgeon will only let you go home when you are eating and drinking and feel well enough. Tonsil surgery is very safe, but every operation has a small risk. The most serious problem is bleeding. This may need a second operation to stop it. As many as five adults out of every who have their tonsils out will need to be taken back into hospital because of bleeding, but only one adult out of every will need a second operation.

During the operation, there is a very small chance that we may chip or knock out a tooth, especially if it is loose, capped or crowned. Please let us know if you have any teeth like this. Your throat will be sore for approximately ten days. It is important to take painkillers regularly, half an hour before meals for at least the first week. Do not take aspirin because it may make you bleed. It will help the pain too. Drink plenty of fluids and stick to bland, non-spicy food.