The tonsils are two small glands located on either side of the back of the throat that help protect the body from infection. If a patient has enlarged tonsils or experiences recurrent tonsil infections or inflammation, a doctor may recommend removing the tonsils surgically to help alleviate uncomfortable symptoms. Tonsil removal, a surgical procedure called tonsillectomy, is most commonly used to treat children. A parent or caregiver should consult a physician to discuss the complications with tonsil removal before his child has this type of surgery.
Pain
The most common complication associated with tonsil removal is pain, explains Dr. Romaine Johnson, a physician at Baylor College of Medicine. Sensations of pain are predominately localized to the back of the throat and are most severe immediately following surgery. Sore throat pain can interfere with a patient's ability to swallow, which may lead to a decreased appetite. Patients with severe throat pain may refuse to eat or drink, increasing their risk of developing dehydration symptoms. Throat pain progressively subsides as the surgical incisions within the throat start to heal, but can persist for longer than a week following surgery.
Bleeding
Patients may develop postoperative bleeding as a complication of this surgical procedure. During the healing process, small scabs form over the incision sites within the throat where the tonsils were removed. If these scabs abnormally fall off, patients can experience severe bleeding, explains MayoClinic.com. Bleeding complications most frequently arise approximately one week following surgery. Increased swallowing can be a sign of abnormal bleeding after tonsil removal surgery. Patients who begin bleeding during healing require prompt, emergency medical care. In certain cases, a patient may require additional surgery to stop the bleeding.
Infection
Infection of the surgical incision sites can occur as a complication of tonsil removal, reports the University of Maryland Medical Center. Affected patients may experience a persistently sore throat and can develop a low-grade fever. Though throat infection is rare following tonsil removal, affected patients typically require additional medication to resolve infection symptoms.
Speech Alterations
Removal of unusually large tonsils can cause speech complications in patients, explains Texas Pediatric Surgical Associates. Affected patients can develop an abnormally whiny or high-pitched voice.
