Adenoidectomy Surgical Instructions

If an adenoidectomy has been recommended for your child then there are a few ways in which you should prepare for this surgery. Adenoidectomies are a way of removing the adenoids surgically, which are the mass of tissue behind the nasal passages. When adenoids become infected they can make breathing difficult as well as leading to ear infections and sinus problems.

Preparations for Surgery

This type of surgery is usually performed as an outpatient, without an overnight stay. In the 10 days prior to surgery your child should not have aspirin or any anti-inflammatory medications within 7 days prior to surgery. You should check over-the-counter medications carefully for any of these ingredients. Your child should also not eat or drink for 6 hours before the surgery, which includes water.

Before surgery you should also make sure that your child understands what is happening and that it will help them. Let them know that most children do not feel much pain, and medicines will help any pains that they do have.

If your child is sick in the day before the surgery you should be sure to contact your doctor.

Risks Of An Adenoidectomy

There are potential complications of this type of surgery which you should discuss with a surgeon. Each child will respond differently to the treatment so there are no guarantees of the risks that may occur. These may result from the patient’s response to the anaesthetic, to the surgery itself or to the way they heal after the surgery.

Some of the complications and risks involved in an adenoidectomy are listed below, though this is not a complete list, nor is it a list of what is expected from the surgery, just the complications that may occur.

Potential risks: the surgery may not resolve the ear infection; there may be a need for a blood transfusion; change in voice (which is very rare); the need for allergy tests and treatments; infection; the need for more aggressive surgery, or failure to improve problems with the nasal airway.