Does your little one always have a cold, stuffy ears, and a stuffy nose? Does he snore at night and breathe with his mouth open? Some parents think that this is normal and that he will get better as he grows up. But the reason for all this may be that your child's adenoids, the glands behind his nose, are enlarged. Today, we will talk about the surgery to remove these adenoids, or Adenoidectomy.
What are these adenoids?
Simply put, the adenoids are two small lumps of tissue located behind our nose, at the top of our throat. Like sentinels, they are part of a child's immune system. Their job is to fight off germs, such as viruses and bacteria, that come in when we breathe.
But the strange thing is, as the child grows up, usually around the age of 13, these adenoids gradually shrink and disappear. Therefore, they have no special function in the adult body.
So why are these surgically removed?
When the adenoids fight germs, they sometimes swell and become larger. This swelling can persist due to things like frequent infections and allergies. Some children are born with larger than normal adenoids.
If the adenoids become enlarged and block the child's airway , it can cause various problems. That's when doctors decide to remove them surgically.
| Problems that can occur due to enlarged adenoids | What happens to it? |
|---|---|
| Difficulty breathing | The child breathes through his mouth during the day and at night while sleeping. The nose feels blocked. In some severe cases, sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing stops for a short time during sleep, can occur. |
| Sleep disturbance | He snores loudly. He doesn't sleep well at night, so he is very restless and irritable during the day. |
| Frequent ear infections | Frequent ear infections, fluid draining from the ear, and even temporary hearing loss can occur. |
| Sinus Infections | Long-term nasal discharge, nasal congestion, and frequent sinus infections can occur. |
Who needs this surgery?
This surgery is mostly performed on children between the ages of 1 and 7, because after that, the adenoids begin to shrink naturally.
How do you prepare before surgery?
Your doctor will explain this to you in detail.
- Be careful about medications: The doctor will tell you about the good and bad types of medications to give your child a few weeks before the surgery. For example, you may be asked to stop taking blood thinners like aspirin and ibuprofen.
- Fasting: Your child will need to stop eating and drinking for a few hours before the surgery. An empty stomach is essential for the surgery.
- Inform about illness: If your child develops an illness such as a cold or fever in the days before the surgery, be sure to inform the doctor about it. If that happens, the surgery may have to be postponed for a few days.
How is the operation performed?
This is a very common, short surgery. It is performed by an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeon.
- First, the child is given medicine to put them completely to sleep . In medicine, we call this ``General Anesthesia.'' So the child does not feel any pain during the surgery, he is sound asleep.
- The doctor then opens the child's mouth and removes the adenoids through it . This means that no visible incisions or stitches are made on the body.
- To stop the bleeding, a special heated device is sometimes used. This method is called `(Electrocauterization)`.
- The entire surgery takes a very short time, about 30 minutes .
- In some children, if their tonsils and adenoids are swollen and causing problems, the doctor may remove both in one surgery. This is called a tonsillectomy.
How is the recovery time after surgery?
After the surgery, the child is taken to a recovery room. Once the effects of the anesthesia wear off and the child wakes up, the medical team checks to see if he or she can breathe, cough, and swallow properly. In most cases, the child can go home the same evening.
It may take a week or two for the child to fully recover. It is normal to experience minor discomfort during this time.
- Pain: You may experience sore throat, neck pain, or earache for a few days. Your doctor will prescribe a painkiller (syrup) to help with this.
- Food: Avoid giving spicy, hard, sour foods (like oranges) during this time. Instead,
- Cold things like ice cream and popsicles
- Soft foods like jelly, pudding, and mashed potatoes
- Give more fluids like water, non-acidic fruit juices, and soups.
- Other symptoms: Vomiting may occur on the first day. There may be a slight fever for a day or two. It is also normal to have a slight bad breath for a few weeks.
When should you call the doctor immediately?
Be very careful about these things when you bring your child home after surgery. If any of these things occur , call your doctor immediately or take your child to the hospital's Emergency Department (ETU).
- If the child has difficulty swallowing .
- If you cannot keep anything down (if you are constantly vomiting).
- If you still have a fever three days after surgery.
- If you cough up blood clots or vomit something that looks like coffee grounds .
Don't worry that your child's immune system will be weakened after this surgery. Our body's immune system is very smart. It adapts to fight germs in other ways. In fact, your child will be much healthier without swollen adenoids.
Take-Home Message
- Adenoidectomy is a very common and safe surgery performed on children.
- This is a successful solution to problems such as frequent ear infections, sinus problems, breathing difficulties, and snoring during sleep.
- The child's immune system will not be harmed after the surgery.
- Follow the doctor's instructions carefully before and after the surgery.
- Give your child soft, cold foods and plenty of fluids during recovery.
- If you notice any danger signs (e.g. high fever, vomiting blood), seek medical advice immediately.
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