Adenoidectomy - Enlarged Pharyngeal Tonsils
A distinction has to been drawn between the polyps in the nasal mucous membrane and the “Polyps”, as they are commonly called, in the nose and pharynx. These “Polyps”, which can be found in children, are actually enlarged pharyngeal tonsils (adenoids). They may cause an increased nasal discharge and impair the nasal breathing, With the nasal breathing then being replaced by mouth breathing, secondary troubles may occur in the ears and in the respiratory tract. In such cases the removal of the enlarged pharyngeal tonsils (adenoidectomy) may be indicated.
Frequently, the lymphoid tissue of the nasal and pharyngeal tonsils (adenoids) swells in children of two to three years of age. This causes an obstruction of the nasopharyngeal airway which may result in recurrent middle ear infections and chronic middle ear effusions. Normally, the size of the adenoids diminishes when the children grow older, especially from the age of six or seven years.
Impaired nasal breathing is a typical symptom of the presence of adenoids, but also snoring, poor appetite, nasal speech, permanent mouth breathing, disturbed sleep, vulnerability for infections of the respiratory tract, recurrent middle ear infections and chronic Eustachian tube ventilation disorder with hearing loss. The presence of such symptoms may require the ablation of the adenoids (adenoidectomy). However, please note that these symptoms can also be caused or aggravated by an (intercurrent) enlargement of the palatine tonsils. In such a case the treatment must involve the tonsils. After a careful planning and preparation, the adenoidectomy is performed in our clinic in Munich as outpatient surgery under narcosis.
Further useful information about related issues