A tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgeries performed in the United States and is performed almost exclusively as an outpatient surgery. It is important to be aware of potential post-operative complications, because most patients will be discharged home within two to 10 hours after the procedure.
Bleeding
Post-operative bleeding occurs in 1 to 4 percent of tonsillectomies. Bleeding can occur within the first 24 hours after surgery (primary) or several days after surgery (secondary). A 2004 study published in the "Journal of Laryngology and Otology" found that the most common time for post-operative bleeding is between the fifth and 10th days. Adults undergoing a tonsillectomy are at a slightly increased risk of post-operative bleeding compared with children who undergo the procedure. Bleeding can be caused by infection, eating foods with rough edges too soon and poor healing of the surgical site. Sometimes bleeding is mild and stops on its own, but severe bleeding requires an emergency procedure, known as cauterization, to stop the bleeding. Patients who develop post-operative bleeding following a tonsillectomy need to consult with their doctor immediately.
Pain
Most people have a severe sore throat after a tonsillectomy. The pain can last up to two weeks but is most intense during the first three to five days. Some patients also complain of referred ear and neck pain. It is usually well-controlled with pain medication. According to an August 2007 study in "Clinical Otolaryngology," there has been improvement in post-operative pain in children undergoing tonsillectomies with the introduction of a new surgical technique, known as coblation tonsillectomy.
Voice Changes
Sometimes people sound unusually nasal or even muffled-sounding after undergoing a tonsillectomy. This is because the soft palate, a part of the throat that alters certain speech sounds, can be affected during the surgery. The change in is often temporary, but sometimes a person's voice quality will be permanently changed.
Infection
Infection is a potential risk with any surgery. A tonsillectomy creates an open wound in the throat. The mouth and throat normally harbor many different kinds of bacteria, and that bacteria can enter the healing wound and cause infection. Symptoms include worsening throat pain and swelling and fever.
Dehydration
Some patients experience such severe post-operative pain that they do not eat or drink adequately, leading to dehydration. This is more common in children than in adults, because children are less able to verbalize the degree of pain that they are experiencing.
Local Trauma
Sometimes the teeth are damaged during the tonsillectomy by instruments that are used to remove the tonsils.
Tonsil Regrowth
Depending on which type of surgical technique is used, there is a small risk of either some of the tonsil tissue remaining or the tonsils growing back.
References
- "National Center for Health Statistics"; Healthcare in America: Trends in Utilization; A Bernstein et al; 2003
- "Ear, Nose and Throat Journal"; Incidence of Post-tonsillectomy Hemorrhage in Children and Adults: A Study of 4,848 Patients; J. Windfuhr et al; September 2002
- "Journal of Laryngology and Otology"; Secondary posttonsillectomy haemorrhage and informed consent; RJ Alexander et al; December 2004
