Type of Surgery
Information
Last updated: 11/24/2009
Demographics information is difficult to provide because adenoidectomy is routinely performed in an outpatient setting, for which demographic data are not well recorded. Good information is available from the 1970s and 1980s when the surgery was performed...
in an inpatient setting. In the United States in 1971, more than one million combined T&As, tonsillectomies alone, or adenoidectomies alone were performed, with 50,000 of these procedures consisting of adenoidectomy alone. In 1987, 250,000 combined or single procedures were performed, with 15,000 consisting of adenoidectomy alone. Now, almost all adenoidectomies are performed on an outpatient basis unless other medical problems require hospital admission or an overnight stay. T&A is considered the most common major surgical procedure in the United States.
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Using graphic animation, this video shows the step by step process for removing tonsils and adenoids, including these anatomical structures that are located in the throat.
Patient's mouth is held open with tubes (A). A mirror is used to visualize the adenoids during the procedure (B). The adenoids are removed with a side-to-side or front-to-back motion (C). Bleeding is controlled with a cauterizing tool (D). (Illustration by GGS Inc.)
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Other Information
Adenoidectomy is the surgical removal of the adenoids. They may be removed for several reasons, including impaired breathing through the nose and chronic infections or earaches. The surgery is common. It is most often done on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. Post-operative pain is generally minimal and prevented with an abundance of icy or cold foods, though dairy foods such as ice cream should be avoided, as they coat the back of the throat, encouraging the body to produce phlegm, which can interfere with healing. The procedure can sometimes be combined with a tonsillectomy if needed. Recovery time can range from several hours to two or three days (though as age increases so does recovery time).
Adenoidectomy is often performed on children aged 1-6, as adenoids help the body's immune system. Adenoids become vestigial organs in adults.
Other Information
According to the latest data from the National Center for Health Statistics, 878,000 ear surgeries were performed in the United States in 2003.
From: National Center for Health Statistics
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