Tonsillectomy

The tonsils are strategically located at the entrance to both the respiratory and digestive systems. They are the largest and most important part of the lymphatic system and play an important role in the development of the immune system. However, because of their special structure, they can become infected repeatedly and turn into a source of disease (acute & chronic tonsillitis). If the balance between their protective function and recurrent disease permanently shifts toward disease, removal of the tonsils (tonsillectomy) may be considered.

The tonsils should be removed in cases such as severe tonsil infections with fever at least 5 times a year, severe bad breath, a suspicious mass or cancer, especially in one of the tonsils, snoring and breathing difficulty during sleep (apnea), and an abscess due to a previous infection.

What techniques are used in this surgery?

Tonsillectomy is the most common surgical procedure performed on children. Over time, advances in surgical instruments have led to improvements in surgical techniques. Cold-steel surgery, electrocautery, laser, plasma surgery, ultrasonic technology, radiofrequency, the harmonic scalpel and thermal welding have come into use.

In recent years, the gold-standard method in tonsil surgery has been thermal welding. The thermal welding system is a device based on the direct use of thermal energy (heat) without electric current; it causes minimal tissue damage and can both cauterize and cut with the same instrument.

At our hospital, tonsillectomy with thermal welding, a brand-new method, makes the surgery more comfortable.

Thermal welding uses heat energy to control bleeding in the surgical field during the operation and speeds up tissue healing afterward. Because this method prevents bleeding during surgery, it significantly shortens the duration of surgery and anesthesia.

While providing considerable ease during surgery, it reduces the frequency of bleeding after surgery. It also reduces, compared with other methods, the pain that lasts about 10–15 days after surgery, which is another very important problem in the postoperative period.

In conclusion, for the patient, the thermal welding method improves tolerance in the postoperative period and offers relatively more comfort than other techniques.

Tonsillectomy is performed under general anesthesia. The procedure takes about 20–45 minutes on average. In most cases, no scalpel or stitches are used, and the tonsils are removed with thermal welding.

After surgery, the patient is usually kept on the ward for 6–8 hours and then discharged. Rarely, an overnight stay is needed. Medication is prescribed for pain control. A diet program of about 10–15 days is given to prevent bleeding after surgery.

Patients drink plenty of water, eat ice cream and consume liquid and soft foods. Children can return to their daily activities after 7–10 days and adults after 15–20 days.