Should the tonsils be removed?

Glands (palatine tonsils) are lymphoid accumulations that perform protective and hematopoietic functions. Paired organs are located deep in the throat behind the palatine arches and are one of the key components of the lymphadenoid pharyngeal ring. They constitute an immune barrier that prevents pathogens from entering the respiratory tract.

Should you remove tonsils? Frequent relapses of ENT diseases, abnormal structure of organs and their hypertrophy are direct indications for the removal of palatine tonsils.

The absence of tonsils can negatively affect local immunity and the general reactivity of the body.

For this reason, surgical intervention is carried out only in extreme cases in the presence of serious pathologies.

What is tonsillectomy?

Removal of tonsils is a simple operation, during which there is a partial (tonsillotomy) or complete (tonsillectomy) excision of lymphadenoid formations. Surgical manipulations are resorted to only in case of ineffectiveness of conservative treatment and tissue hypertrophy. Until recently, tonsillectomy was performed exclusively under general anesthesia, but with the advent of gentle techniques for excising soft tissues, the procedure is more often performed under local anesthesia.

Is it painful to remove tonsils? A large number of nerve endings are concentrated in the lymphoid formations.

For this reason, the tissues to be operated on are numbed before surgery. In otolaryngology, there are at least 5 different methods for removing the palatine tonsils:

• mechanical ectomy - excision of soft tissues with a scalpel and a metal loop under general anesthesia; occurs mainly in the presence of serious complications (paratonsillar abscess, glandular hypertrophy);
• cryodestruction - a procedure for freezing and removing lymphoid tissues under general anesthesia;
• liquid plasma ectomy - partial or complete excision of the tonsils using a plasma "knife"; this is one of the most non-traumatic methods of performing an operation;
• ultrasound removal - cutting out the affected tissue using an ultrasonic emitter; during the procedure, the damaged vessels are "sealed" at the same time, which prevents severe blood loss;
• laser ectomy is a simple operation for excision of lymphadenoid formations with subsequent coagulation of medium-sized vessels.

It should be noted that removal of tonsils can cause postoperative complications. Rehabilitation helps to reduce the likelihood of septic inflammation, during which the patient must undergo antibacterial and immunostimulating drug treatment.

When is tonsillectomy performed?

Do I need to remove tonsils? Only a qualified specialist can judge the expediency of the procedure. In the absence of serious indications, tonsillectomy is not performed, which is associated with a decrease in the resistance of the whole organism.

In the course of 5-year laboratory studies, American experts have established that the tonsils are an immune laboratory. It is in it that a thorough analysis of foreign agents entering the body from food and air takes place. All potentially dangerous microorganisms are neutralized by paired organs, which prevents the development of infectious complications.

When might surgery be required? In most cases, surgery is performed for tonsil dysfunction. Frequent relapses of purulent tonsillitis and abnormal tissue structure pose a threat to human life. If conservative treatment does not allow to eliminate pathogens in the lacunae and follicles of the tonsils, they are removed to prevent the generalization of catarrhal processes.

Arguments for"

Secondary immunodeficiency is one of the key causes of frequent relapses of ENT diseases. With chronicity of catarrhal processes, the palatine tonsils are constantly inflamed, which leads to the proliferation of lymphoid tissue. In this case, the removal of the tonsils allows you to eliminate the main site of localization of pathogenic microorganisms and thereby prevent severe post-infectious complications.

Should the tonsils be removed? Tonsillectomy is performed by otosurgeons only in cases where pathological changes in tissues in the future can lead to negative consequences. There are several important arguments in favor of the operation:

• elimination of the source of infection - excision of infected tissues contributes to the elimination of foci of inflammation, which prevents the development of secondary diseases (pharyngitis, bronchitis, sinusitis);
• constant relapses - chronic inflammation of lymphoid formations leads to organ dysfunction, their hypertrophy and the occurrence of post-infectious complications;
• elimination of foci of chronic inflammation triggers detoxification processes in the body, thereby strengthening the general immunity;
• prevention of systemic complications - poisoning of the body with metabolites of beta-hemolytic streptococcus leads to an increase in the load on the detoxification organs and the cardiovascular system;
• timely removal of tonsils allows you to neutralize pathogens, which prevents the development of rheumatism, encephalitis, pyelonephritis, myocarditis, etc.;
• prevention of thyroid dysfunction - pathological processes in the ENT organs negatively affect the functioning of the endocrine system, in particular the thyroid gland;
• carrying out tonsillectomy reduces the risk of developing thyrotoxicosis, hypothyroidism and other pathologies.

Do the tonsils need to be removed or not? It should be understood that the human body is a well-coordinated system in which there are no unnecessary components. Surgery is performed only if there are serious indications. If the patient is faced with relapses of ENT diseases more than 4-5 times a year or the proliferation of lymphoid tissues makes breathing difficult, surgical intervention is simply necessary. In all other cases, drug treatment is attempted to eliminate pathological processes in the tonsils.

Arguments against"

Do the tonsils need to be removed or treated? The presence of bad breath and discomfort in the throat cannot be attributed to the number of strong arguments in favor of the operation. Yes, after excision of the tonsils, the above symptoms are eliminated, but together with human immunity.

Lymphoid formations are a barrier that prevents the penetration of any foreign agents into the airways. In the absence of glands, foci of inflammation are localized in the tubal tonsils, which creates the prerequisites for the development of secondary infectious diseases. It should be understood that after tonsillectomy, patients may face the following problems:

• delayed bleeding is a common postoperative complication that can lead to aspiration of bleeding and the development of bronchitis;
• lack of an immune barrier - a decrease in local immunity contributes to an increase in relapses of pneumonia, tracheitis, pharyngitis, etc.;
• drying out of the mucous membrane - the absence of palatine tonsils contributes to the drying out of the mucous membrane on the back of the pharynx, which causes discomfort;
• increased risk of oncology - patients who have undergone tonsillectomy are at risk of oncological diseases 2 times more often.

Women with tonsils removed have a harder time during gestation (pregnancy).

Scientists have found that the tonsils indirectly affect the functioning of the hypothalamus.

Removal of tonsils is one of the reasons for insufficient production of female hormones. Their deficiency leads to an exacerbation of toxicosis and an increase in the risks of developing congenital pathologies in a child.

Whether to remove the palatine tonsils in the development of chronic diseases? Lymphoid formations produce specific proteins that are involved in the deactivation of pathogens. Their excision will inevitably lead to an increase in infectious diseases.

It is for this reason that many specialists are trying to do with partial removal of the tonsils with excision of only those tissues where the pathogenic flora is localized.

Dispelling myths

Should tonsils be removed during the development of chronic tonsillitis? Some patients think with horror about the possibility of tonsillectomy. This is largely due to a lack of understanding of the specifics of the procedure, its effectiveness and possible consequences.

Before weighing the pros and cons of surgery, you should dispel several common myths:

1. tonsils are removed from everyone who suffers from chronic angina - they resort to surgical intervention only if canning therapy is ineffective and relapses of pathology occur more often 4 times a year;
2. excision of the tonsils - a procedure requiring general anesthesia - general anesthesia is provided only for classical surgery with a scalpel and a metal loop;
3. excision of tonsils completely deprives immunity - a non-radical operation (ablation) with partial removal of lymphadenoid tissues practically does not affect general and local immunity;
4. during the operation, large blood loss occurs - when tissue is excised, small vessels are quickly thrombosed, and large ones are "sealed" during electrocoagulation, which prevents significant blood loss.

Excision of the tonsils in children under 5 years of age increases the risk of developing dysbiosis, secondary immunodeficiency and food diathesis.

Should tonsils be removed as a preventive measure? Cutting out tissues that take part in the synthesis of protective cells negatively affects the reactivity of the whole organism. For this reason, the operated patient may have pain more often than before tonsillectomy. To reduce the risk of developing infectious pathologies, in anticipation of seasonal diseases, it is advisable to observe preventive measures.

Prophylaxis

Infections contribute to the development of pathological processes and proliferation of lymphoid tissue cells. That is why in patients with chronic tonsillitis, the growth of the palatine tonsils is often observed. To prevent tonsillectomy, you need to follow simple rules for the prevention of infectious diseases:

1. the use of vitamins - retinol (A), tocopherol (E) and folacin (B12) help to strengthen general immunity, which reduces the risk of developing infections by 2-3 times;
2. the use of immunostimulants - on the eve of seasonal diseases, it is advisable to take immunostimulating drugs, the components of which stimulate the production of interferon, a protein that takes part in the destruction of viruses and bacteria;
3. timely dental treatment - carious teeth lead to a change in the pH level in the oropharynx, which creates optimal conditions for the development of infection;
4. if teeth are treated on time, the risk of developing tonsillitis will be reduced by at least half;
5. a balanced diet - regular consumption of fortified foods (vegetables, fruits) and protein foods stimulates the body's immune activity.

Ignoring the above recommendations creates the prerequisites for the development of infection in the upper respiratory tract. In the case of chronic inflammatory processes, the risk of glandular hypertrophy increases, which is the basis for an operation.

Partial removal of the tonsil does not reduce the risk of tissue regrowth.

Can tonsils be removed quickly and painlessly? In cases where surgery is unavoidable, the specialist selects for the patient the best way to remove the palatine tonsils. The choice of a specific technique is determined by the extent of the infection, the depth of tissue damage and the patient's history. The safest and most painless methods of excision of tonsils include laser, plasma and radio wave therapy.