Facts About Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy

• Tonsillectomy (ton-sil-EK-toe-mee) and adenoidectomy (ad-uh-noid-EK-toe-mee) or T&A is a surgery to remove the small glands on each side of the throat (tonsils) and at the top of the throat behind the nose (adenoids).
• T&A may be done in an inpatient (overnight) or outpatient setting.
• Children who are younger than 3 years; those who might not drink enough liquids and become dehydrated after surgery; and those at risk for breathing problems after the surgery will stay in the hospital overnight.
• T&A requires general anesthesia to make your child sleep during the surgery.
• The surgery takes about 30 minutes to 1 hour, but the recovery from anesthesia can take a few hours.
• Your child might be prescribed medications after the surgery.
• Your child might need a blood test before the surgery to see if he or she has any increased risk for bleeding.
• A tonsillectomy, commonly referred to as “getting your tonsils out,” is a surgery to remove the tonsils when a child has tonsillitis or frequent infections that won’t go away in spite of using antibiotics.
• An adenoidectomy is a surgery to remove the adenoids when a child has had breathing problems or ear and sinus problems that won’t go away with antibiotics.
• A tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (T&A) is done to remove both the tonsils and the adenoids when a child has both breathing and swallowing problems.
• Because the surgeon can reach the tonsils and adenoids simply by opening the child’s mouth, there are no incisions (cuts) needed on the outside of the skin.

Before the Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy

When general anesthesia is needed, there are important rules for eating and drinking that must be followed in the hours before the surgery. One business day before your child’s surgery, a surgery nurse will call your home between 1 and 9 p.m. (Surgery nurses do not make these phone calls on weekends or holidays.) Please have paper and a pen ready to write down instructions.

• The nurse will ask you about your child’s medical history, current medications and readiness for the T&A surgery. If you have any questions, you may ask the nurse at this time.
• The nurse will tell you what time you should arrive at the hospital or surgery center. Allow extra time for travel and parking. Arriving late could delay your child’s surgery or cause it to be postponed.
• The nurse will give you specific eating and drinking instructions that are based on your child’s age. Below are the usual instructions, but you should follow the specific instructions given to you on the phone by the surgery nurse.

For children older than 12 months

• After midnight the night before the surgery, do not give any solid food or non-clear liquids. That includes milk, formula, juices with pulp, coffee, chewing gum or candy.

For infants under 12 months

• Up to 6 hours before your scheduled arrival time, formula-fed babies may be given formula.
• Up to 4 hours before your scheduled arrival time, breastfed babies may nurse.

Remember: For the safety of your child, it is important to follow these specific times for eating and drinking. If your child does eat or drink after the scheduled times, it will delay the surgery or cause it to be rescheduled for another day.

• Do not give your child any medication containing aspirin or ibuprofen for 7 days before the surgery. Be sure to read any medication labels.
• 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.
• Buy juices, clear soups, Popsicles^®, Gatorade^® and soft, bland foods like bread, rice, and oatmeal to have at home for after the surgery.