Type of Surgery
Information
Last updated: 11/24/2009
An adenoidectomy is performed under general anesthesia. The surgeon removes the adenoids from behind the palate. Stitches are usually not required.
Excision through the mouth
The adenoids are most commonly removed through...
the mouth after placing an instrument to open the mouth and retract the palate. A mirror is used to see the adenoids behind the nasal cavity. Several instruments can then be used to remove the adenoids.
- Curette removal. The most common method of removal is using the adenoid curette, an instrument that has a sharp edge in a perpendicular position to its long handle. Various sizes of curettes are available.
- Adenoid punch instrument. An adenoid punch is a curved instrument with a chamber that is placed over the adenoids. The chamber has a knife blade sliding-door to section off the adenoids that are then housed in the chamber and removed with the instrument.
- Magill forceps. A Magill forceps is a curved instrument used to remove residual adenoid, usually located deeper in the posterior nasal cavity, after attempted removal with curettes or adenoid punches.
- Electrocautery with a suction Bovie. The adenoids can also be removed by electrocautery with a suction Bovie, an instrument with a hollow center to suction blood and a rim of metal to achieve coagulation.
- Laser. The Nd:YAG laser has also been used to remove the adenoids. However, this technique has caused scarring of tissue and is usually avoided.
Excision through the nose
Adenoids may also be removed through the nasal cavity with a surgical suction instrument called a microdebrider. With this procedure, bleeding is controlled either with packing or suction cautery.
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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
The decision to undergo ear tube surgery should be discussed carefully with the doctor, ... A variety of factors go into this decision. If you think putting tubes in the child's ears is going to improve developmental outcome at age 3, the answer is: no, it won't.
-Jack Paradise
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