Hello and welcome to the Zero to Finals podcast. My name is Tom and in this episode I'm going to be talking to you about tonsillectomies.

And you can find written notes on this topic at zero tofinals.com slash tonsillectomy or in the ear, nose and throat section at the zero definals surgery book.

So let's get straight into it.

Tonsilectomy is the name for the surgical removal of the tonsils.

Removing the tonsils prevents further episodes of tonsillitis,

although patients can still get a sore throat from other causes,

for example, pharyngitis. The procedure is performed under a general anaesthetic, usually as a day

case. Patients can usually go home the same day after a period of observation. Let's talk about

the indications. The signed guidelines's talk about the indications.

The signed guidelines from 2010 give the indications for a tonsillectomy procedure.

The number of episodes of an acute sore throat that they specify is required for a tonsillectomy are seven or more episodes in one year, five per year for two years,

or three per year for three years. Other indications are recurrent tonsillar abscesses,

or Quincy, and this requires two episodes of Quincy, or enlarged tonsils that are causing breathing

difficulty, swallowing difficulty or snoring. Let's talk about the complications of the

tonsillectomy procedure. The key complications are a sore throat where the tonsiler tissue has

been removed, and this can last up to two weeks,

damage to the teeth during the procedure, infection, post-tonsilexmi bleeding,

which we'll talk more about in a second, and risks associated with the general anesthetic.

So let's talk more about post-tonsalect bleeding. Post-tonsolectomy bleeding is the main

significant complication after a tonsillectomy. Significant bleeding can occur in up to 5%

of patients who have had a tonsillectomy and it can happen up to two weeks after the operation.

Bleeding can be severe and in rare cases life-threatening due to the

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