Tonsillectomy
(For Parents)
Tonsil
removal is one of the most common procedures done to the throat. But,
no matter how simple or safe the procedure is it may frighten a child.
Knowing what to expect during, before and after a surgery can lesson
a child's anxiety. (Reading your child our book about tonsillectomy
can be an easy way to show your child what they should expect.)
On
the morning of the operation your child probably shouldn't eat breakfast
(depending on what his/her doctor requests.) This is because he or
she might receive liquids through a vein (intravenously) at the hospital,
so that there is no need to worry about your child getting dehydrated.
When
you get to the hospital with your child you will have to fill out
some paperwork. Afterwards a nurse will take your child to meet the
anesthesiologist. Their job is to help your child sleep through the
surgery. Your child will be asleep for about twenty minutes.
The
type of surgeon that will be operating on your child is called and
ENT (ears, nose, throat) surgeon. During your child's operation the
ENT surgeon will remove your child's tonsils with a series of incisions
and then the surgeon will seal (cauterizes) the blood vessels.
When
your child wakes up they will already be in the recovery area. There
hospital staff members will monitor him or her. The total time your
child will have to spend in the hospital is usually around 5-10 hours.
After
the surgery your child will not look any different or have and visible
scars. Some degree of throat pain and difficulty swallowing are expected
after the surgery.
This is what a mouth looks like after the tonsils have been removed.
Click Here to Visit our Children's Story of
Tonsillectomy.
Click Here to visit interviews of
real people who have had tonsillectomies.
Further Reading
http://www.voice-center.com/tonsil.html
http://www.entcolumbia.org/tonsil.htm