tonsillectomy

A Ton of Useful Information About Tonsillectomy: During and After the Surgery

Published 2020-08-13 | By editor

Part of the preparations for a tonsillectomy is getting reliable information about it. The more you know about it, the more confident you will feel of the outcome. Indeed, a tonsillectomy is a routine surgery with high success rate!

Your tonsillectomy journey, of course, starts with a series of consultations with your surgeon. You will be asked to undergo a series of physical and laboratory tests before your surgery is scheduled. Of course, be sure to turn up at the hospital on the scheduled day!

At the Operating Room

When you arrive at the hospital, you will be briefed about the procedure by the anesthesiologist and nursing staff. You will also be asked to change into a hospital gown – you will be completely naked underneath – and to lie down on a gurney. Afterwards, you will be taken into the operating room, transferred to the operating table and strapped down.

(The strapping down part is scary because you will be rendered immobile. When you think about being put under, your anxiety may increase. But trust the ENT doctors and nurses for their professional competence)

During the Operation

You will be asleep during the entirety of the tonsillectomy. But here’s a summary of what goes on while you’re sleeping on the table.

The surgeon places a small tool in your mouth, said tool of which will keep your mouth open.
The anesthesiologist and nurses monitor your vital signs, among other tasks.
The surgeon removes your tonsils or the affected tonsil tissues by cutting, shaving or burning them.

There will be no stitches made on the area operated on because the wounds will heal naturally. The entire procedure can last between 20 and 30 minutes but it may also last for 60 minutes.

After the Operation

You will be still asleep when you’re transferred to the recovery area. You will wake up disoriented from the anesthesia, perhaps even vomit black bile and feel dizzy. You will be asked to stay flat until such time that the anesthesia wears off.

While a tonsillectomy can be a one-day procedure, don’t expect to be sent home a few hours after the surgery. You will be under observation for several hours during which time the surgeon and nurses will regularly check on your condition.

Just like any surgery, the recovery period can be challenging. You may have to take time off work for one to two weeks depending on your progress. You will also feel pain and discomfort in your throat, especially when eating food and drinking fluids.

Your diet for the first few days will include soft foods like ice cream, gelatin and pudding as well as plenty of water and fruit juices. Your transition to a solid food diet should be gradual so as not to further irritate the surgery area.

After a few weeks, you will feel better! You may even thank your ENT doctor because without oft-infected tonsils, you can now breathe easier.

For details of our ENT services, diagnosis, and treatment, please consult HK ENT specialist (the professional ENT clinic centre).

Source:

HK ENT Specialist Ltd.

Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre

For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,

Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,

Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services

https://www.hkentspecialist.hk

Posted in ENT diseases and health | Tagged tonsillectomy

Physical and Mental Preparations for a Tonsillectomy

Published 2020-07-10 | By editor

Tonsillectomy is a common procedure wherein the tonsils are removed through surgery. Keep in mind that as a surgical procedure, it isn’t to be undertaken without careful discussions between you and your ENT doctor. You will be considered a suitable candidate for a tonsillectomy if your tonsils are large, or if you have trouble breathing at night, or if you’re experiencing frequent throat infections.

Due to the fairly invasive nature of a tonsillectomy, you should be well-prepared for it physically and mentally. You will be put under general anesthesia, a slightly scary thing in itself, followed by the surgeon removing either both the tonsils or just the affected tonsil tissue.

Physical Preparations

Even if tonsillectomy is a fairly routine procedure, you must be relatively healthy for the surgery. Your surgeon will ask for physical and laboratory exams to be performed, which can take a day or two. These exams can include blood tests, such as a complete blood count, clotting factors and electrolytes, and checks for blood pressure and glucose levels.

Be honest about your medical history and other possible risk factors. If you have a bleeding disorder, your doctor may evaluate your suitability for a tonsillectomy, for example.

Depending on your response to the surgery, you may be sent home on the same day or spend a night at the hospital. In either case, you have to make arrangements for a family member or a friend to drive you home from the hospital.

A few more important things to consider as part of your physical preparations.

Wear loose-fitting clothes before showing up to the hospital on your scheduled day for surgery. You should be able to change from your street clothes to a hospital gown easily. Don’t wear your jewelry and makeup but do take a shower.

Stop eating and drinking at the recommended time, usually about 8 hours before the operation. For example, if your operation is at 8 a.m., you will be asked to fast starting at 12 midnight.

Stop taking medications according to your doctor’s recommendations. These can include ibuprofen, warfarin and naproxen, which increases bleeding.

Your ENT doctor will give instructions on what to do before your surgery – follow them for best results.

Mental Preparations

Be honest about your mental health, too. This is because people with major mental health issues have to be further evaluated before surgery so as to decrease the risk of side effects and complications. People with depression and anxiety disorders, for example, are closely monitored, especially during the recovery period.

If you have concerns and questions about your scheduled tonsillectomy, you should discuss them with your surgeon. You will likely get the right answers, perhaps even be reassured about the safety of the procedure, and have your concerns addressed.

In the end, a tonsillectomy is an elective procedure. You may or may not choose to go through with it but it’s a decision best discussed with your ENT doctor.

For more details of the tonsillectomy, please consult HK ENT specialist (the professional ENT clinic centre).