Tonsillectomy For Tonsil Stones: What You Need To Know
Tonsillectomy is one of the most effective treatments for tonsil stones. It’s safe, it produces lasting results, and it effectively prevents the future recurrence of tonsil stones and tonsillitis. And since the tonsils are non-essential organs, you can live and be just as healthier (or even healthier!) without them.
So what exactly is a tonsillectomy? Tonsillectomy is the partial or total removal of the tonsils through surgery. In addition to treating tonsil stones, tonsillectomy is also used to treat other disease like chronic tonsillitis, sleep apnea, peritonsillar abscess, and enlarged tonsils.
| The throat 1 day after tonsillectomy. Image courtesy of Yuri Sucupira |
There are a wide variety of surgical techniques that can be used for tonsillectomy. Examples of these techniques are laser tonsillectomy, electrocautery, radiofrequency ablation, harmonic scalpel surgery, microdebrider, and thermal welding surgery. The technique used would depend on the condition being treated, the age of the patient, how much of the tonsil needs to removed, and the risk of post-operative complications.
What can you expect from a tonsillectomy? First, you’ll have to do some preparations for surgery. These preparations include:
- A list of all the medication you’ve taken in the past month, this includes over-the-counter medications and supplements
- A list of any adverse reaction or allergies you or your family may have to any drug
- Arrange for transportation to the hospital and back home
- 2 weeks off from work or school for recovery
- Don’t take any aspirin or any non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs for at least 2 weeks
- Don’t eat or drink anything after midnight before your scheduled surgery
- A list of any questions you want to ask your surgeon before surgery
- Any other instructions from your doctor that you need to do prior to surgery
For the most part, tonsillectomy is an outpatient procedure. The entire procedure takes only around an hour, including administration of anesthesia. After that, you’ll be transported to the recovery area to rest and wait for the anesthesia to wear off. Once you’ve recovered from the anesthesia, you’ll be given a list of things you need to do to help with recovery. The things you need to do to help with tonsillectomy recovery include:
- Apply ice packs to your neck to help decrease the swelling
- Take antibiotics to prevent post-surgical infections
- Take pain medication for any post-operative pain
- Eat only light, soft and cool foods for the next few days to prevent irritating the surgical scar
- Make note of any other complications you’re experiencing like nausea, vomiting or fever
- Show up for your follow up appointments
Tonsillectomy for tonsil stones is a very safe procedure. But as with any type of surgery, there are inherent risks and complications. The possible complications of tonsillectomy are:
- Recurrence of tonsil stones. This could happen if not all of the tonsils have been removed.
- Bleeding. This happens when the wound is not cauterized properly or if there are problems with the blood clotting (either from a blood clotting disorder or from anticoagulants).
- Infections. This complication can be prevented by taking the necessary antibiotics before and after surgery.
- Changes in the voice. This happens when the vocal cords are affected.
- Drug allergy. You may have a delayed allergic reaction to medication. If you notice any swelling or irritation that won’t go away, consult your doctor immediately.
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