Who and why you need to remove the tonsils
Educational Program Health / / December 19, 2019
How to understand that the operation will bring you more good than harm.
What are tonsils
Tonsils - this tissue growths in back of the mouth, containing clumps of cells of the immune system. The correct anatomical name of the glands - palatine tonsils.
Why tonsils
Glands - this is only a small part of the system of lymphoid tissue scattered throughout the body. Education, like tonsils, are present in the back of the nose, on the back of the tongue and in the small intestine.
Palatine tonsils are involved in fighting infection, but does not play a special role in this process. That is, after removal of the tonsils person will not get sick more often, as the rest of the immune system will continue to function normally.
Who needs to delete tonsils
Inflammation of the tonsils is called tonsillitis or tonsillitis. For unknown reasons, some people suffer from angina often and hard.
Tonsillectomy - surgery to remove the tonsils - reduces the frequency and severity of angina. The only problem is that this procedure is very unpleasant, risky and expensive. Therefore, tonsillectomy should be done only if the benefits outweigh the harm.
According to current clinical guidelines Clinical Practice Guideline: Tonsillectomy in Children, Remove the tonsils is worth it if:
- During the last episode of angina in humans have developed serious complications, such as thrombosis of the jugular vein, blood infection, peritonsillar abscess.
- Angina occurs with each time expressed suppuration tonsils, severe pain in the throat and fever. In this case the patient has an allergy to different antibiotics, which is why it is difficult to find a cure.
- If a child is observed PFAPA syndrome (episodes of angina are repeated very often, every 3-6 weeks, and are accompanied by a strong increase temperature, Sore throat, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, and aphthous stomatitis).
- The patient often has strep throat (more than 7 times per year), and each episode is accompanied by at least one of these symptoms: Fever above 38 ° C, a significant increase in morbidity and lymph nodes in the neck expressed suppuration glands, and analysis GABHS infectionGABHS infection It gives a positive result.
- Some experts recommend removing the glands, if due to a streptococcal infection in a child developed neuropsychiatric disorders. This is a rare condition, and it is not known whether the operation helps in such cases.
- If a child is having trouble breathing at night due to the fact that the tonsils greatly enlargedConstantly enlarged tonsils (glands) in children: answers to basic questions.
- If a person suffers from tonzillolitov - rounded, smelly deposits on the tonsils. Removal of the glands may be the only long-term solution in this case.
When it is not necessary to delete tonsils
Removal of the tonsils can cause serious complications. On the other hand, 20-50% of patients with angina eventually become less frequent and easier. Therefore, many experts recommend to postpone the removal of the tonsils at least 12 months if:
- Over the past year the patient had at least seven episodes of tonsillitis.
- Over the past two years a person had less than five angina episodes per year.
- Over the past three years, the patient had at least three episodes of tonsillitis per year.
Can I do without tonsillectomy
If the main problem is the very frequent or severe angina, alternative solutions are almost nonexistent.
symptomatic treatmentEvidence-based guidance for patients on issues related to acute pain and inflammation in the throat and antibiotics allow more or less quality control over the rare episodes of angina, but are not well suited, if you often treated or if at high risk of complications.
As is known, treatmentGuideline for the management of acute sore throat antibiotics only slightly faster recovery from flu and does not provide complete protection against the development of septic complications.
Statements about the benefits of various folk methods of treatment (using honey, propolis, gargling, etc.) in angina are completely unfounded.
As is the operation
For surgery need 1-3 days to go to hospital. Preoperative preparation and the procedure itself takes 1-1,5 hours. Immediately glands removal takes about 10-15 minutes.
During the operation, the patient is under sedation. This kind of anesthesiaWhich eliminates the pain and the bulk of the unpleasant memories, but leaves the human consciousness in order to enable him to fulfill the request of the surgeon. In children, the operation can be carried out and under general anesthesia.
Many patients go home the day after surgery.
For the patient the most unpleasant part - a period of recovery. In the first 7-10 days after surgery sore throat is very strong. At this time, all patients in need of pain management quality. This will help in not only drugs, but also cold food, including ice cream.
Children need to be especially attentive care. It is necessary to ensure that the child receives adequate analgesia according to the doctor's recommendations. In addition, it is important that the child drink at least 1 liter of fluid a day and eat a little. Therefore, let your child everything he loves. The amount of food at this time is more important than its quality. Well, it is desirableTonsillectomy in children and adultsThat the food was soft, without sharp edges, cold or slightly warm.
What complications can be
Removing the tonsils is a relatively safe procedure. But sometimes, complications still occurClinical Practice Guideline: Tonsillectomy in Children.
According to one observation, conducted in England, about 1 out of 34 000 operations ends with the death of the patient.
Heavy bleeding after surgery is seen in 1-5 out of 100 patients. More serious complications, such as fracture of the lower jaw, severe burns, damage to teeth, are rare.
For unknown reasons, some patients after surgery is constantly sore neck.
24 hours after the operation the risk of severe bleeding becomes insignificant.
conclusions
there are certain clinical indications for tonsillectomy. In other cases, surgery may do more harm than good.
If you are advised to remove the tonsils, ask why and what result you can expect.
And read tips Layfhakera of medical decisions and communicating with your doctor.