About tonsillectomies

A tonsillectomy is the surgical removal of the tonsils from the back of the mouth.

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 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.
• Burns from the equipment used to seal off bleeding areas during the operation.
• Infection. Persistent bad breath, worsening throat discomfort or delayed bleeding may indicate an infection. This is usually treated with antibiotics.
• Pain. Moderate to severe throat pain is common during the first 10 days after surgery, requiring regular analgesia.
• Injury to the teeth, lips, gums or tongue. There can also be a temporary change in sensation to tongue or sense of taste. A permanent change in the sense of taste can occur on rare occasion.
• One's singing voice may sound changed following surgery.
• Abnormal scarring may rarely occur causing narrowing or stenosis of the throat or strange sensations in the throat.