Dangerous complications can occur when tonsils are removed

A tonsillectomy is a simple, easy-to-do and fairly safe surgery, but can also cause complications, even death from bleeding.

When should it be?

Prof. Dr. Vo Thanh Quang - Director of Central Otolaryngology Hospital, Chairman of Vietnam ENT Association - recommends only cutting tonsils in the following cases:

1. Patients often suffer from repeated inflammation, 5-6 times a year.
2. Patients with abscess.
3. Tonsillitis causes complications such as inflammation of the middle ear, sinusitis or severe complications such as low heart rate, arthritis, glomerulonephritis.
4. Too large tonsils, obstructing airway, snoring, sleep apnea, or repeated recurring infections affect the quality of life of patients .
5. In addition, tonsils are also indicated for cutting when there are many niches containing many secretions that cause bad breath, swallowing, or malignant suspicion.

According to Associate Professor Quang, usually, children over 5 years of age begin to have tonsils removed. Many cases under 5 years of age with large tonsils should also be designated for cutting. There are many cases over 50 years of age still cutting tonsils.

Only tonsils should be removed when indicated.(Photo: Brrowardhealth).

The most dangerous complication when cutting tonsils

According to Assoc. Quang, tonsillectomy is a simple surgery, easy to carry out and is quite safe if experienced by surgeons and in reputable specialized medical facilities, with auxiliary specialty such as room surgery, emergency recovery room.

However, they can also cause complications, even death from bleeding when health workers perform improper techniques (blood vessel clipping causing bleeding, not being able to hold).Bleeding is a common complication when cutting tonsils. However, this complication is minimized by the technique of cutting with super-high knives, patients with very little bleeding.

Besides, the patient is anesthetized before cutting tonsils to relieve pain. Meanwhile, patients may also face complications of anesthesia - anaphylactic shock.

'When anesthetizing, people often have to inject 4-5 drugs such as pain reliever, anesthetic, muscle relaxants. The doctors must separate the patients to see which drugs they react to, not to mention the two drugs are in the same blood vessels at a time, they can react , 'Quang said.

The expert said this was a complication in anesthesia, similar to when the patient was injected with other drugs (even when eating food) on him, not only because of anesthesia.

Therefore, before conducting anesthesia and surgery, patients should be examined and tested carefully.

'At the Central Otolaryngology Hospital, for patients with a history of allergies, we must test allergies to a variety of different anesthetics. But that is only relative, not guaranteed when injected, the patient will not be shocked. Reaction in the process of anesthesia is difficult to anticipate, therefore, must always be ready to respond, 'said Quang.

Associate Professor Quang noted that when suffering from tonsillitis, patients need to go to the hospital to be treated properly by specialized doctors, or to appoint tonsil if necessary.

1. Learn about tonsillitis and the right time to cut the tonsils