Adenoidectomy
What are the adenoids
The adenoids are a collection of lymphoid tissue (like tonsils) found in the nasopharynx, at the back of the nose. They are often enlarged in children as a result of repeated viral infection but tend to regress in size at around 8-9 years.
Why do we remove adenoids?
When they are large or infected they can cause the following symptoms:
Snoring
Obstructive sleep apnoea
Nasal blockage and mouth breathing
Purulent nasal discharge with frequent and prolonged colds
They are also thought to have a role in glue ear. When an adenoidectomy is combined with grommet insertion, there is a slightly reduced risk of recurrence of glue ear once the grommets come out than if grommets are inserted alone.
Removing the adenoids can help with the symptoms above although it is not always a so helpful for patients with recurrent nasal discharge
How do you remove the adenoids?
The operation is performed under general anaesthetic through the mouth.
A gag is used to open the mouth and a suction diathermy or coblation device is used to 'vaporise' the adenoid tissue under direct vision. This technique has superceded the old fashioned curettage procedure and has the advantage of being a relatively 'bloodless' procedure with minimal pain following the surgery.
What should I expect after the operation?
Adenoidectomy can usually be performed as a day procedure. However, patients who have been experiencing obstructive sleep apnoea may require an overnight stay in hospital for observation.
It is a relatively painless procedure with children returning to normal activity within a couple of days
Patients may experience some of the following:
some bloodstained or mucoid discharge from the nose which usually settles after a few days
an unpleasant smell that is noticeable after a few days and usually disappears after a week
nasal obstruction as a result of swelling - this may not clear immediately but usually improves after a few days following surgery
How long before my child can return to school?
Children may return to school 2-3 days after the operation.
Best to avoid swimming for 10 days
Can the adenoids grow back?
Yes this happens in about 5 -10% of patients and is more likely to happen in younger children
Red flag symptoms
Should your child develop a stiff or painful neck or difficulty in swallowing then you will need to contact us without delay. This is an extremely rare complication where there is inflammation of the ligaments in front of the spine that causes neck muscle spasm. The treatment is admission for intravenous antibiotics and neck support.
