Adenoidectomy

An adenoidectomy is the surgical removal through the mouth of the lymphoid tissue located at the back of the nose.

There are risks and complications with this procedure. They include but are not limited to the following.

General risks

• Infection can occur, requiring antibiotics and further treatment.
• Bleeding could occur and may require a return to the operating room.
• Small areas of the lung can collapse, increasing the risk of chest infection. This may need antibiotics and physiotherapy.
• Increased risk in obese people of wound infection, chest infection, heart and lung complications, and thrombosis.
• Heart attack or stroke could occur due to the strain on the heart.
• Blood clot in the leg (DVT) causing pain and swelling. In rare cases part of the clot may break off and go to the lungs.
• Death as a result of this procedure is rare but possible.

Specific risks

• Bleeding. This may happen either at the time of surgery or in the first 10 days after surgery. Delayed bleeding may require re-admission to hospital and may require another operation to stop the bleeding. A blood transfusion may be necessary depending on the amount of blood lost. The risk of a big bleed is less than 5%.
• Injury to the teeth, lips, gums or tongue
• Adenoids may grow back.
• Infection. Persistent bad breath or delayed bleeding may indicate an infection. This is usually treated with antibiotics. Delayed bleeding is treated as outlined above
• Permanent damage to the tube that connects the middle ear to the back of the throat. This can cause pain, loss of hearing and dizziness.
• Incompetence of the palate. Nasal speech and leakage of food or fluids through the nose may occasionally occur in the early post-operative period. This usually gets better but rarely it may not, and further surgery or speech therapy may be needed.