Adenoidectomy

What is an adenoidectomy?

An adenoidectomy is the surgical removal of the adenoids. The adenoids are glands located in the throat behind the nose and are not visible through your mouth. The adenoids fight infection but they can get infected and enlarged themselves. This can cause persistent breathing difficulty, sleep apnea (pauses in breathing during sleep), sinus infections, ear infections, and hearing loss. Your doctor may recommend an adenoidectomy for your child if he or she suffers from these conditions.

The adenoids are largest in infants and younger children. Large adenoids are more likely to become infected. Because of this, doctors perform most adenoidectomies on younger children. Adenoids begin to shrink around age five and may eventually disappear. It is very rare for older children or adults to have an adenoidectomy.

An adenoidectomy is a common but major surgery with significant risks and potential complications. You may have less invasive treatment options and should consider getting a second opinion about all of your treatment choices before your child has an adenoidectomy.

Other procedures that may be performed

Doctors often remove the tonsils (tonsillectomy) during the same procedure. The tonsils are also infection-fighting glands located in the throat. Tonsils can get infected and enlarged along with the adenoids and cause similar problems.

Why is an adenoidectomy performed?

Your doctor may recommend an adenoidectomy to treat certain diseases and conditions of the ear and respiratory tract. Your doctor may only consider adenoidectomy if other treatment options that involve less risk of complications have been ineffective. Talk with your doctor about all of your child’s treatment options and consider getting a second opinion.

Your doctor may recommend an adenoidectomy when the adenoids become infected or enlarged, causing persistent:

• Ear infections, possibly leading to hearing loss
• Excessive and loud snoring due to enlarged adenoids that block the breathing passages
• Difficulty breathing through the nose due to enlarged adenoids
• Sinus infections, also known as sinusitis
• Sleep apnea, or pauses in breathing during sleep

Your doctor will also remove the adenoids if you or your child has adenoid cancer or a tumor affecting the adenoids.

How is an adenoidectomy performed?

A general surgeon, a pediatric surgeon, or anotolaryngologist (an ear, nose, and throat specialist) will lead a surgical team to perform your child’s adenoidectomy in a hospital. The surgery is generally an outpatient procedure, although some children may need to stay overnight in the hospital for observation.

Your surgeon will complete the procedure by propping open your child’s mouth and removing or cauterizing the adenoids through the mouth. Cauterizing is sealing blood vessels or tissues with heat. Your surgeon will cauterize the remaining blood vessels to reduce bleeding.

Types of anesthesia that may be used

Your surgeon will perform an adenoidectomy using general anesthesia. General anesthesiais a combination of intravenous (IV) medications and gases that put your child in a special type of sleep. During general anesthesia, your child is unaware of the procedure and will not feel any pain.

What to expect the day of your child’s adenoidectomy

The day of surgery, you can expect to:

• Talk with a pre-operative nurse. The nurse will perform an exam of your child and ensure that all needed tests are in order. The nurse can also answer questions and will make sure that you sign the surgical consent.
• Remove all of your child’s clothing and jewelry and dress in a hospital gown. It is a good idea to leave all jewelry and valuables at home. The surgical team will respect your child’s privacy and give him or her blankets for modesty and warmth in the surgical suite.
• Talk with the anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist about your child’s medical history and the type of anesthesia he or she will receive.
• A surgical team member will start an IV.
• The anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist will start the anesthesia.
• The surgical team will monitor your child’s vital signs and other critical body functions. This occurs throughout the procedure and in recovery until your child is alert, breathing effectively, and his or her vital signs are stable.