Adenoidectomy (adenoids removal)

Adenoids are glands located in the nasopharynx or cavum, behind the nose and above the soft palate, forming part of the functioning of our body's immune system.

As they are located precisely at the confluence between the nasal passages, larynx and Eustachian tubes (ear ventilation ducts), the tissue is very susceptible to inflammation and infection. These problems can cause obstruction of the nose, the appearance of abundant mucus in the throat and blockage of the ventilation of the ears. When this happens, complications such as otitis, noisy night breathing, bronchitis and sleep apnoea can occur.

With adenoidectomy, adenoids are removed and the symptoms caused by their inflammation are eliminated. This technique is characterised by its short hospital stay and the simplicity of the procedure. It is also notable for not causing any alterations in the patient's immune system.

Adenoids are lymphoid follicles located in the upper part of the pharynx. This formation generates antibodies to fight infections and help our body's immune system from birth. Generally, adenoids grow until we reach the age of 4 and then decrease in size during adolescence.

When this accumulation is very large, it can block the passage of air from the nasal cavity to the larynx, causing the need to breathe through the mouth as a compensatory mechanism. From this situation onwards, it is very possible to develop complications such as otitis, repeated respiratory tract infections, bronchitis, snoring, etc.

What are the complications of enlarged adenoids?

Any inflammation of the adenoids generates abundant mucus that obstructs the nose, discharges mucus into the throat and blocks ventilation of the ears. It also leads to more serious conditions that can only be successfully resolved with surgical treatment.

Problems that can occur after enlarged adenoids include frequent episodes of otitis, chronic sinusitis, persistent rhinitis and even bacterial build-up that can lead to secondary respiratory infections.

There are several reasons why one should consider undergoing an adenoidectomy, although all of them are focused on alleviating discomfort and eliminating respiratory limitations, in most cases in children, as adenoid inflammation usually occurs at an early age.

Let us remember that during childhood the function of the adenoids is to help the immune system to fight infections and germs that attack the organism, but it can happen that the glands overexert themselves, prolonging their inflammation or reappearing very often. This can lead to the glands having to be removed for good.

Among the cases in which a patient should undergo adenoid surgery are the following:

• Chronic adenoiditis: when drug treatments are not effective and the pathology is prolonged, the only recommended solution is surgical treatment to remove the adenoids and possibly the removal of the tonsils during the same operation.
• Sleep apnoea and respiratory obstruction: when the adenoids and tonsils become inflamed, sleep apnoea syndrome usually appears, increasing nocturnal respiratory problems and causing rest problems and mood swings, so the specialist would recommend surgery to remove the adenoids.
• Tumour in the throat or nostrils: to solve problems of this type, normally associated with older adults, adenoidectomy surgery is absolutely necessary.
• Frequent infections: normally children, until their development is complete, can suffer frequent infections, up to 7 or more times in a year. This situation means that they have to be absent from school or from work in the case of adults. To remedy this, it is advisable to resort to surgical treatment.
• Chronic otitis: when the inflammation of the adenoids is prolonged over time, the ventilation of the auditory pathways is obstructed and leads to otitis, oozing in the ears and even hearing loss. If this discomfort is prolonged over a long period of time, it can lead to serious hearing loss, so surgery is the best option for a solution.

Before deciding whether or not to have surgery (for you or your child), you should request a free consultation with our ENT specialist through the Operarme website, so that you can meet him or her in a face-to-face consultation and he or she can assess whether or not the intervention is indicated. 

We recommend that you bring to the consultation any medical evidence you have about the problem, as this will help the doctor in his or her assessment.

After requesting the consultation through the website, one of our personal patient care advisors will call you to confirm the date of the consultation and answer any questions you may have. However, you can also request information at any time by calling at +34 91 141 33 56, or sending a contact form.

Do you need surgery to remove adenoids?

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On the day of the appointment, after the appropriate introductions, the doctor will review the reports you provide and will conduct a medical interview about the discomfort caused by the inflammation of the adenoids. The specialist will also perform an examination of the area to assess your case, obtaining a more accurate diagnosis and determining the most appropriate treatment for you.

During this consultation, the ENT specialist will explain what adenoid surgery consists of and answer any questions you may have. Do not hesitate to ask the doctor any questions you may have about the intervention or the state of the pathology, so that you can make the right decision.

In the event that you and the specialist decide that you or your child should opt for the adenoidectomy operation, the date of the operation can be set during the same consultation. In any case, our patient care team will contact you and will manage the whole process, preoperative, admission date, consultations...

Once it has been decided that the adenoidectomy operation is going to be performed, the next step is to carry out the pre-operative.

As for any surgical intervention, a preoperative study must be carried out during which the following tests are performed:

• Blood tests: to rule out signs of infection or other data that could complicate the intervention.
• Chest x-ray: this test helps to rule out respiratory problems and is usually performed only when the specialist deems it necessary.
• Electrocardiogram: allows the specialist to know the health of your heart.

Anaesthesia for adenoidectomy surgery

Adenoidectomy is performed under general anaesthesia. The anaesthetist administers drugs through an intravenous line, previously placed in the arm, connected to an IV. It is also possible to administer the anaesthetic through a mask placed on the face, which is distributed throughout the body via the respiratory tract.

In addition, throughout the surgical procedure, the anaesthetist will monitor your vital signs, pulse, blood pressure, oxygenation and anaesthesia levels, so there is nothing to worry about.

Adenoids removal surgery is considered a painless procedure that is performed on an outpatient basis, i.e. you can go home the same day of the operation without the need for hospitalisation. 

Below we explain how the day of the surgery will go:

On arrival at the hospital, you must hand in the necessary documentation at the admissions desk. After that, you will be escorted to the operating theatre area where you or your child, depending on who the patient is, will be asked to undress and get dressed in surgical clothes.

Once you are ready, you will be taken to the operating theatre, where you will meet the surgeon with whom you had your consultation, the anaesthetist and a member of the nursing team. Once you are on the operating table, the surgery will begin:

1. First, the anaesthetist will place a line in your arm through which the anaesthetic will be administered, or you will be fitted with a mask through which you will inhale the anaesthetic.
2. After the anaesthetic takes effect, the surgeon will place a small tool in your mouth to keep it open during surgery.
3. The specialist will then remove the adenoid glands with a curette or curette, a spoon-shaped surgical instrument that allows the tissue to be removed. A tool may also be used to help cut the soft tissue. In addition, some surgeons use electrical techniques that heat the tissue, remove it and stop the bleeding, a method known as electrocautery. Another method uses radiofrequency energy in the same way as the previous technique, this method is called coblation.
4. Finally, absorbent compresses are placed over the operated area to stop any bleeding and to be able to observe whether the extraction has been carried out correctly.

The duration of adenoidectomy is approximately 15-20 minutes.

After surgery, you or your child will stay in the recovery room. When the patient wakes up and can breathe easily, cough and swallow, you will be discharged and can go home. This will usually be several hours after surgery.

Once the surgery is completed and you have recovered from the effects of the anaesthesia in the post-surgery room, you can go home the same day as the surgery.

The recovery process after this type of surgery is not usually very complex, although you may feel some discomfort at first, for example, discomfort when swallowing food or drinking liquids. Therefore, you must be patient and follow all the instructions given by the ENT specialist.

Postoperative care includes the following guidelines:

• Diet: drink liquids frequently and in small sips along with a soft diet in moderate quantities (during the first 24-48 hours).
• Rest: rest at home for the first 2-3 days, without exerting yourself too much.
• Medication: to soothe minor aches and pains after surgery, your specialist will prescribe painkillers that you should take during the first few days of recovery.

This healing stage is usually much more bearable for children, as they recover more quickly than adults. However, the care is the same regardless of the age at which you undergo surgery for adenoids.

Full recovery is complete after 2 weeks, although after the first 24 hours you will notice a noticeable improvement.

After surgery and completion of the recovery process, in most cases, both in children and adults, quality of life is completely restored, as symptoms such as sleep apnoea, snoring and difficulty breathing disappear. Similarly, the quality of sleep improves, prolonging rest and reducing irritability, attention difficulties and tiredness.

As for the risks of this surgery, there is very little chance of complications both intraoperatively and postoperatively.

After surgery, although rare, haemorrhage or signs of fever may occur. If they do occur, you should consult your doctor about the best solution. You may also notice changes in your voice or taste. 

These alterations are usually temporary and disappear within a few days after surgery.

Do you need surgery to remove adenoids?

Request a free and immediate appointment with our specialists in Otorhinolaryngology

Make an appointment