What is Adenoid Surgery?

Adenoid surgery, often known as adenoidectomy, is a common surgical procedure performed by an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist to remove the adenoids. The adenoids are glands located on the roof of your mouth behind the soft palate where the nose and throat meet. Adenoids produce antibodies (white blood cells) that help your body fight infection. In most cases, adenoids shrink during adolescence and will often disappear during adulthood. While they sound beneficial to your child, adenoids can be enlarged when they have to fight against frequent throat infections. This means that enlarged adenoids can obstruct breathing and block your Eustachian tubes. This can cause ear infections, which could damage a child’s hearing, hence why ENTs would recommend a child undergo adenoid surgery.

Common symptoms of enlarged adenoids

In most children, enlarged adenoids will cause the following symptoms:

• Sore throats
• Ear infections
• Difficulty swallowing
• Trouble breathing through the nose
• Mouth breathing
• Sleep apnea (difficulty breathing during sleep)

Some problems, such as repeated ear infections in the middle ear, can have serious implications such as permanent hearing loss or speech problems. Your ENT will recommend that your child undergoes adenoid removal surgery if they suffer from chronic ear or throat infections that do not respond to antibiotics and occur more than five times a year.

What does adenoid surgery involve?

In most cases, your ENT will carry out a basic examination of your child’s body to ensure that their blood clots correctly and that their white and red blood count is regular. These tests help your ENT determine if there will be excessive bleeding or not during and after the surgery. Your ENT will perform the adenoid surgery while your child is under general anesthesia to keep them asleep. Your child will be able to go home after the surgery. Adenoids are typically removed through the mouth. Your ENT will insert an instrument through the mouth to prop it open. Next, they’ll make small incisions or cauterize the adenoids to remove them. Stitches won’t be necessary after the procedure. Once the adenoids are removed, your child will stay in the recovery room and they’ll be ready to leave once they wake up. You’ll be given medication to help your child recover. In most cases, full recovery from adenoid surgery will take one or two weeks. Your child may also experience sore throats after the surgery, but this is normal and they will need to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated and alleviate the pain. Your doctor will likely remove your child’s tonsils at the same time. This is because throat infections don’t only affect the adenoid glands, but also the tonsils. Adenoid surgery is a common procedure and there are no major risks involved. However, you will need to let your doctor know if your child has any allergies to medication to prevent allergic reactions occurring. After the procedure, your child will have fewer throat infections, fewer ear infections and they’ll be able to breathe and sleep more easily.