Tonsil and Adenoid Removal

Our practice regularly consults with families regarding tonsil removal and adenoid removal for children located in Melbourne and regional Victoria.

The primary treatment for children with obstructive sleep apnoea or sleep disordered breathing is surgical removal of the tonsils and adenoids. This is referred to as tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy or T&A surgery.

We know from our scientific data, that this operation will alleviate snoring, obstructive sleep apnoea and sleep disordered breathing in the large majority of children (approximately 90%).

In those where it does not rectify the problem, there is often something else affecting the airway – and this can be further investigated.

Why does tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy help sleep apnoea and snoring in children?

Tonsils, snoring and sleep apnoea

Tonsils and adenoid are lymphoid tissue at the back of the mouth and nose that help the body identify infections, and allergens in very early life. After this, they are relatively redundant and mostly cause problems with recurrent infections, and airway blockage.

If your child's tonsils are large in size or subject to recurrent tonsillitis / chronic tonsillitis or other infections, the tonsils can block breathing passages which results in difficulty breathing and sleep disturbance. In more severe cases, your child may temporarily stop breathing throughout the night, leading to obstructive sleep apnoea.

Adenoids, snoring and sleep apnoea

Adenoids are also tissues in the throat, located higher than the tonsils, behind the nose.

Enlarged adenoids can cause recurrent ear infections and nasal obstruction, potentially leading to snoring and OSA.

Tonsil and adenoid removal in kids

In children the tonsils and adenoids are typically removed at the same time to achieve the best outcome.
While in adults there can be many different causes of snoring (lifestyle, weight, stress, airway flow) in children the majority of snoring is due to:

Large tonsils
Large adenoids
Large turbinates
A combination of the above

We can discuss tonsil removal, adenoids and turbinates surgery for your child in detail during a consultation.

Frequently asked questions about Tonsil and Adenoid Removal in Kids

Does my child need to be asleep for the procedure?

Is tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy a major surgery?

How long does the T&A procedure take?

Do you have to stay overnight for a tonsillectomy?

What can my child eat or drink after the tonsillectomy?

What to expect after my child has tonsils and adenoids out?

Getting the operation done is the easy bit – the recovery is the hard part…the ears and throat will be sore. Unfortunately it is a painful operation, but the kids generally do pretty well (nothing like the pain of tonsillectomy in adults). There is a small chance of bleeding afterwards and we will discuss what to do if this happens. It is normal for your child to have bad breath, sore throat or white patches on the side of the throat after the surgery. This will get better as the throat heals.

What pain medication should my child have after tonsil and adenoid removal?

How long does it take for a child to recover from removal of tonsils and adenoids?

What happens if the adenoids are not removed?

What are the risks of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy?

There are risks involved with any surgical procedure although these are rare. Some potential risks of T&A include the risk of bleeding during or after surgery, dehydration, infection at the surgery site and difficulty breathing from swelling. There may be other risks depending on any other medical conditions your child may have. Please raise any concerns with our team before the procedure.

My child has previously had Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy but is still experiencing features of OSA/SDB

In the rare instances where Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy stops episodes of tonsillitis, ear infections and other symptoms but fails to fix the OSA/SDB, other causes must be considered. In addition to a sleep study, performing Drug Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) can be incredibly useful.

Using DISE, if we can identify an area of collapse warranting treatment, we will discuss this with you at length and formulate a management plan. If you have any concerns regarding your little one(s) and obstructive sleep apnoea/sleep disordered breathing in children – please contact us to schedule an appointment.

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