Although many people feel that tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (T&A) are not performed, anymore this is not true. T&A is still indicated for frequent tonsillitis/adenoiditis occurring frequently or for tonsil and adenoid enlargement causing nasal congestion, snoring and sleep apnea. The results of T&A are often swift and dramatic.
We use an electrocautery technique used by most university hospitals to remove the tonsils. This technique minimizes bleeding and cuts down on the time spent in the operating room. Lasers are rarely employed for this procedure because they do not offer any distinct advantages and increase costs for patients dramatically. The original surgical technique, using a wire snare, often causes a very significant blood loss and takes slightly more time in the operating room. While most ear, nose and throat physicians can perform the T&A procedure, we try to minimize the discomfort associated with the procedure. We use medications during the surgery which decrease pain and nausea after surgery. The use of intraoperative pain medication allows the pain to remain controlled for up to 48 hours following the procedure. Patients are then able to transition to pain control via oral medications. The recovery is very predictably completed in 7-10 days.
Our surgery center allows parents to be with their children when the anesthesiologist puts them to sleep. Parents are also with their children as they are waking up. Parents can also rest assured that only Dr. Siegel or Dr. Bosworth are actually performing the procedures. We do not use residents or surgical assistants. We do not work with nurse anesthetists. The board certified anesthesiologists at our surgery center are also specialized in pediatric anesthesiology. Both Dr. Siegel and Dr. Bosworth have performed thousands of tonsillectomies and adenoidectomies.