Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Snoring
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Surgery Overview
Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are surgeries
to remove the
tonsils or adenoids. They are:
- Used to treat obstructive
sleep apnea (OSA) in children.
- Rarely used to treat
snoring in adults.
- Not used to treat
snoring in children.
The surgeries almost always require a stay in the hospital.
What To Expect After Surgery
You may need to be watched closely after
surgery. Your doctor or surgeon will watch:
- Your blood oxygen levels for the first 2 to 3
nights after surgery.
- For throat swelling, nerve injury, and
sleepiness. Both the surgery itself and the medicines used can cause this.
Children who are younger than 3 years and who have other
conditions, such as
Down syndrome, are more likely to have problems from surgery. The most common is having a hard time breathing. These children may need
oxygen therapy or
continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy
after surgery.
Why It Is Done
Your doctor may suggest these surgeries to treat sleep apnea if you have swollen tonsils and
adenoids that block your airway during sleep. This is often the first treatment choice for children. That's because swollen tonsils and adenoids are often the cause of their sleep apnea.
How Well It Works
In children with sleep apnea, symptoms almost always improve within 6 months of surgery. Parents report a decrease
in:
- Snoring, coughing, and
colds.
- Hyperactivity and other behaviour
problems.
- Restless sleep.
In children, these surgeries work well to treat obstructive sleep apnea 75% to 100% of the time. This is true even if the child is
obese.footnote 1
Risks
Your
throat will be sore after surgery. You may find it hard to eat and swallow for a few
days. Other possible problems after surgery include:
- Infection.
- A lot of bleeding.
(Some bleeding is expected.)
What To Think About
- You can't predict
if you will have snoring or breathing problems by simply looking at the size of your tonsils and adenoids.
- If you have
other health problems, your doctor may have to treat them before you have this
surgery.
- Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are the most common
treatments for children who have obstructive sleep apnea.
- Some children may need to be watched closely before surgery. This includes those who have certain health problems that
cause bony deformities of the face and head. These problems include dwarfism and Down syndrome. It also includes children who have had a head injury or who have nervous and muscular disorders, such as
cerebral palsy.
- Children who have other conditions, such as
asthma, upper respiratory infections, and heart
problems, need to be treated for those problems before and after surgery. This can help
reduce the chance of problems from surgery.
Complete the surgery information form (PDF)(What is a PDF document?) to help you prepare for this surgery.
References
Citations
-
Schechter MS, et al. (2002). Technical report: Diagnosis and management of childhood obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Pediatrics, 109(4): E69. Available online: http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/109/4/e69.
Credits
ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical ReviewerAnne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine
Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical ReviewerMark A. Rasmus, MD - Pulmonology, Critical Care Medicine, Sleep Medicine
Current as ofMay 23, 2016
Current as of:
May 23, 2016
Schechter MS, et al. (2002). Technical report: Diagnosis and management of childhood obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Pediatrics, 109(4): E69. Available online: http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/109/4/e69.
