The adenoids are at the back of the throat,
behind the nose and above the tonsils .Along
with the tonsils, the adenoids trap bacteria
and germs that you breathe in. They stop
doing this in early childhood, and by the
age of three the adenoids are of no more use. The
adenoids grow smaller and smaller over time,
eventually disappearing in adulthood.
An adenoidectomy is
an operation to remove the adenoids.
When it should
be done
An adenoidectomy will
often be done at the same time as a tonsillectomy
(removing the tonsils) if the adenoids are
swollen to the point where they affect breathing.
An adenoidectomy will also be done if frequent
ear infections do not respond to antibiotics.
Adenoids do not normally
need to be removed once a child reaches
adolescence.
Why it is
necessary
There are two main
reasons for removing the adenoids. The
first is when the adenoids become enlarged
(known as adenoid hypertrophy). This
may cause the airways to become blocked,
and make breathing through the nose difficult.The
blockage can cause a range of symptoms. Some
are mild ones like snoring, bad breath (halitosis),
a nasal-sounding voice and a runny nose. Some
are more severe, including heavy snoring
(sleep apnoea), high blood pressure in the
lung arteries (pulmonary hypertension) and
right-sided heart failure.
Enlarged adenoids
can also be caused by repeated chest infections
or allergies, but in other cases the cause
is unknown.
The second reason
for removing the adenoids is when they get
infected. Since the main purpose of
adenoids is to stop bacteria and viruses
entering the body, they can often become
infected themselves. This can cause
long-term ear infection or otitis media.
If these infections
continue and interfere with the child’s
day-to-day life or schooling, doctors may
suggest an adenoidectomy.
How it is
performed
An adenoidectomy is
done under a general anaesthetic. The
anaesthetic will usually be given through
a narrow tube (called an endotracheal tube)
which is put in the mouth and passed
down the throat.The adenoid tissue may be
cauterised (destroyed using heat). Or it
may be removed using either a small surgical
instrument called a curette or a powered
shaving device called a microbrider, which
cuts and removes the soft tissue.
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Adenoidectomy - Operation to remove the adenoids
