Dr. Trang Huy PHAM - www.orl-information.fr In this video for patients we explain how the removal of the palatine tonsils is performed. Tonsillectomy is an operation that aims to remove the palatine tonsils. We all have 2 palatine tonsils which are located in the throat at the level of the soft palate, on each side of the uvula. They are composed of immune tissue that helps fight infections. Why remove the tonsils? Tonsil removal can be proposed in 2 main situations: 1- firstly, when they are the site of infections called angina, too frequent, severe, and causing abscesses. 2- secondly, when their volume is very large, the tonsils can cause breathing difficulties or difficulty swallowing. Tonsil removal is recommended if its symptoms are associated with growth retardation in children or cause apnea or breathing pauses during sleep. How is the procedure performed? The procedure is performed under general anesthesia. The surgeon removes the tonsillar tissue simply by passing it through the mouth. The operating time rarely exceeds 20 minutes. What are the post-operative effects? While the procedure itself is often simple and quick, the post-operative effects can be marked by temporary, sometimes significant, difficulties that should be noted. The surgical wound caused by tonsil removal takes 10 to 15 days to heal. It becomes covered with a whitish coating, sometimes smelly, which can cause significant pain, amplified during swallowing. It then becomes comparable to that of a severe angina. Resuming eating can be difficult. Medical treatment of pain is therefore systematically proposed. It must be associated with the consumption of non-spicy, cold or warm, mixed or chopped foods, which facilitate early resumption of eating. What are the risks of the procedure? Any procedure on the human body, even when carried out under optimal conditions of safety and competence, carries a risk of complications. In the immediate aftermath, tonsil surgery can cause small, non-serious injuries to the tongue, lip or, more exceptionally, to the mobilization or even the loss of a tooth. Bleeding from the surgical site may appear at a distance from the procedure. This complication, rare but potentially severe, generally occurs within 8 to 15 days following the procedure. Thus, any active bleeding from the surgical site, even minimal, must be reported quickly to the surgeon who can, if necessary, proceed to check it under general anesthesia. Pr. Benjamin LALLEMANT ENT & CMF Department - Head and Neck Surgery Nîmes University Hospital, France www.orl-information.fr -------------------------------------- Professional production CINEREGARD https://www.cineregard.fr/ [email protected] -------------------------------------- ✔Subscribe to the ORL-Information channel: / orlinformation ✔Find us on the internet: https://www.orl-information.fr @Information and Prevention in Medicine How to maintain your health? How to prevent diseases, treat yourself and heal.