Age for tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy?

[alison]

Well, it is January. That's well over halfway through an academic year, so A wouldn't be the first that they've ever done!

I hope it all goes well!

[HouseofWool]

When C had his done, I insisted that both the surgeon and the anesthesiologist both be attendings.

[Ravenclaw]

Are you kidding. I know way too much, I wouldn't let most of those folks close to my dog let alone my kids. I think you did good.

Haha! Could not have said it better myself! I would insist on an attending doing it.

[peggyfromwastate]

Lol Cheri- when dd3 had her tubes put in dh insisted on an attending doing it (which is standard protocol here- residents don't operate on other residents kids)-- I said-- Mac, how long has it been since the attending actually has done this procedure?? Lol. It was all good though.

I'm going to ask dh about the tonsil thing. I really think given her sleep apnea he'd take the tonsils now too instead of wait and see. But I'll ask him.

She will feel so much better!! Adenoids are a little bit more of a recovery than tubes-- much less than tonsils though. The recovery from tonsils is still a bit painful (they don't even do the ice cream thing-- remember that from when we were kids? Bribing with ice cream?). The pain factor is probably why they are being so conservative.

And really-- these procedures are the "bread and butter". Super basic stuff. But still... Demand the ped ENT lol!!

[SuzySunshine]

So I talked to DH and he asked his ENT friend here about this doc and I guess he's the dean and a great guy/surgeon. So that is good.

The doc said recovery from both would be 5-7 days and adenoids only would be 3-5. He said there was a higher rate of complications if they do both which is why he only recommended adenoids since the tonsils looked small.

[peggyfromwastate]

Dh is home finally!! Just now getting a chance to ask him about this all...

Anyway Dh is doing his fellowship in sleep surgery- pretty much doing surgical solutions to sleep apnea. Since A stopped breathing at night, that puts her in the "sleep apnea" crowd. The standard for ENTs who do a lot of this stuff (Dh's PD did a peds fellowship and is also the sleep specialist) is to take the tonsils and the adenoids.

If you are comfortable with this plan of action (and your doctors obviously have all the facts and the info) then that's great-- Really having the adenoids out alone will make a big difference!! It's just something to keep an eye on for the future if she starts to have mouth breathing issues/sleep problems again in the future...