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Medical Author:

John Mersch, MD, FAAP

John Mersch, MD, FAAP

Dr. Mersch received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, San Diego, and prior to entering the University Of Southern California School Of Medicine, was a graduate student (attaining PhD candidate status) in Experimental Pathology at USC. He attended internship and residency at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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In this Article

• Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy introduction
• What are the risks and complications of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy?
• What happens before surgery?
• What takes place the day of surgery?
• What happens during surgery?
• What happens after surgery?
• General instructions and follow-up care
• When to call the doctor
• Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy At A Glance
• Patient Comments: Tonsillectomy - Risks and Complications
• Patient Comments: Tonsillectomy - Describe Your Experience
• Find a local Ear, Nose, & Throat Doctor in your town
• Tonsillectomy Index

When to call the doctor

Notify the doctor if the patient has:

1. A sudden increase in the amount of bleeding from the mouth or nose that lasts more than a few minutes.
   
   
2. A fever greater than 101.5 F (38.6 C) that persists despite increasing the amount of fluid they drink and administration of acetaminophen (Tylenol and others). A child with a fever should try to drink approximately one-half cup of fluid each waking hour, and an adult should drink one cup per hour.
   
   
3. Persistent sharp pain or headache which is not relieved by pain medications prescribed.
   
   
4. Increased swelling or redness of the nose, neck, or eyes.

Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy At A Glance

• Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy is a surgical procedure performed to remove the adenoids.
  
  
• The tonsils and adenoids are masses of lymphoid tissue located behind the nasal passages.
  
  
• All surgical procedures have risks and potential complications.
  
  
• Understanding what is involved before, during, and after surgery can help the patient recover from surgery as comfortably as possible.