San Francisco Ear Nose Throat Specialist

The tonsils are located on each side of the back wall of the throat, just above and behind the tongue. Theses tissues help defend the body against infection. When they are chronically infected or when pus pockets (abscess) developed around it, tonsils may need to be removed. Heavy snoring and cessation of breathing in children could be a warning sign for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome (OSAS). Removal of enlarged tonsils provides dramatic relief and quality of life improvement for these patients.

Who needs the operation?

Recurrent tonsil infections/ strep throat/ peritonsillar abscess

Bad breath or foul taste resulting from chronic tonsillitis

One sided enlargement of tonsil suspicious for cancer in adults

Obstructive sleep apnea in children

Obstructive sleep apnea in adult refractory to CPAP treatment

Tonsil hypertrophy causing trouble swallowing

What is involved with removing the tonsils?

Every patient who is to undergo a tonsillectomy is first screened to make sure there is no increased risk for having excessive bleeding during or after surgery. This is done with a simple questionnaire and possibly some routine blood tests. The surgery is performed through the mouth with the patient under general anesthesia.

Coblation tonsillectomy is the latest technology which has been proven to reduce the amount of postoperative pain after a tonsillectomy.

The procedure lasts about 30 minutes and can usually be performed as an outpatient. Any child with significant medical problems or children under the age of 3 will have to stay in the hospital overnight for observation. Your child will be sent home with prescriptions for an antibiotic as well as for pain medication.

For more information on tonsillectomy, please go to www.tonsil.org