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Vincent Cumberworth BSc FRCS Consultant Ear,
Nose and Throat Surgeon
Clementine Churchill Hospital Sudbury Hill Harrow Middlesex HA1 3RX
Private Secretary: Tel: 020 8872 3866 Fax: 0208872
3861
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information for its purposes prior to use. There will be no
responsibility for information that is misused or misinterpreted and
the information should not be used as a substitute for consultation
with a health care professional. It is not possible to answer
questions regarding individual cases or to enter into individual
correspondence.Tonsil Surgery in Children
Please see also the information listed regarding
tonsil or adenoid surgery. These are just
some small further specific notes relating to children.
1. Before the operation
(a) If there should be any further infection or
inflammation the week preceding surgery, it may be necessary for the
operation to be postponed, possibly for a few weeks. The risks
discussed in the above section, principally involving post-operative
infection and bleeding, are certainly higher in the event of surgery
in the presence of infection and if it is possible to avoid this by
waiting, to reduce the risks a little it is often better to do this.
(b) Do discuss with the relevant doctors, and certainly your
operating doctor and anaesthetist, if there was any history of
bleeding or easy bruising or any familial clotting problems.
2. Hospital Stay and after discharge
It may be possible for the tonsil surgery to be performed as a day
case, in which case it is possible to go home without staying in
hospital overnight after the operation. This does depend somewhat on
factors including eating and drinking after the operation and it is
always advisable to be prepared for an overnight stay.
(a) After the operation the risk relating to primary or
secondary bleeding are discussed in the above sections; it has been
stated that “about 2 children out of every 100 who have their
tonsils removed will need to be taken back into hospital because of
bleeding and that 1 of these 2 may require a second operation.
(b) Please inform specialist if you are aware that there any
loose teeth, as it is possible for these to be dislodged during the
operation.
(c) After tonsil surgery it is possible for a varied amount
of discomfort to be experienced between the 1st and 10th
post-operative day. It is advisable for painkillers to be taken
around half an hour prior to eating and Aspirin should not be used
for children under the age of 16.
(d) Specific type of food which is eaten is not important,
what is important is that the child does eat and drink as this will
not only encourage healing and general wellbeing but also exercise
the muscles on the throat and reduce risk of infection. In a similar
way, chewing gum post-operatively can be of assistance.
(e) It is possible for referred pain to occur, such that the
disturbed nerve endings in the tonsillar fossae, where the tonsils
have been removed, may give rise to discomfort in the ears. Some
children seem to manifest most of their post-operative discomfort as
earache.
(f) It is normal for the throat to appear white and grey
while it is recovering but in the event of temperature or a
particular unpleasant smell developing then antibiotics may be
needed and it would be advisable for medical review.
(g) A child will need to abstain from school for a period of
around 2 weeks and it is best to avoid potential contact with
infected people regarding coughs and colds.
(h) If there is any bleeding from your child’s throat it is
important to see a doctor, either by calling GP, the ward or
attending the nearest hospital Casualty Department.
© Vincent Cumberworth 2008
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