Day Case Tonsillectomy for Adults

You must be driven home in a car or a
taxi, and be accompanied by a responsible
adult. A responsible, English speaking
adult must stay with you for 24 hours after
discharge.
You are advised to have 2 weeks off work.
If you require a certificate, this will be
issued before you leave the ward.
You should avoid contact with anyone who
has a cold or is unwell and should avoid
smoky and crowded environments for two
weeks to reduce the risk of infection.
You should not drive for at least 24 hours
after your operation.
There is a slight possibility that bleeding
could occur from the tonsil bed for up to
two weeks from the operation.
If you have any fresh blood in your saliva
or if you vomit fresh blood please contact
your ward immediately and ask to speak to
the nurse in charge.
This may be due to post-operative
infection and will require re-admission to
the ward for antibiotic cover.
Hospital follow up
You will not need a follow up appointment.
However, if you need advice or help you
may contact the ward directly and ask to
speak to the nurse in charge.
Telephone number:
Ward 1B – 08454 226184
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GHPI0499_03_05
Author: Annette Achaiah
Review due: March 2007
Patient Information for the
Gloucestershire Health Community
Day Case
Tonsillectomy for
Adults

Introduction
Many patients can now come into hospital
for their tonsillectomy and go home on the
same day.
Your consultant will have assessed your
suitability for day case tonsillectomy at your
outpatient’s consultation.
Before your operation you will be required
to attend a pre-admission clinic, where a
nurse will make a more detailed assessment
to ensure your suitability for surgery.
In order for you to have plenty of time to
recover, your operation will be performed
at the beginning of a morning theatre list.
What to expect
The aim of this procedure is to surgically
remove the tonsils under general
anaesthetic.
Before having a general anaesthetic it is
important that your stomach is empty.
Please do not have anything to eat after
midnight. This includes chewing gum,
sweets and chocolate. You may drink clear
fluids up to 7am (e.g. water).
Please bring any medication you take
including inhalers with you. Take your
normal dose on the morning of the
operation.
Following your operation
Following the operation you will be
observed by your nurse who will monitor
your pulse regularly for several hours.
Risks
There is approximately a 1 in 200 risk of
bleeding in the first eight hours after the
operation.
The risk of haemorrhage at 1 week after the
operation is approximately 1 in 20.
There is a risk of developing an infection
about one week after the operation.
There is always a small chance of damage to
teeth or dental caps/crowns.
Medication
Immediately after the operation your throat
will be sore and you may feel nauseous. You
will be offered medicines to help alleviate
any discomfort.
You may also experience earache after
tonsillectomy. This is because the nerve
which supplies your throat is also connected
to your ears.
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Once at home you will need to take the
painkillers provided by the ward 1⁄2 hour
before meals. This will enable you to eat and
aid recovery.
It is normal for your sore throat to feel
worse before it gets better, usually around
the fifth day after your operation. This is
due to the healing process.
Eating and drinking
After your operation you may start to
drink as soon as you wish. It is important
to resume your normal diet as soon as
possible. Chewing and swallowing will
help relieve pain and remove any debris
from the tonsil beds, helping to prevent
infection.
It is also advisable to drink plenty of
fluids and to rinse your mouth well after
each meal, particularly after eating dairy
products.
Do not worry if you notice white patches
on your throat. These are normal and will
last until your throat has healed.
Leaving hospital
Providing you make a good recovery, you
should be well enough to go home in the
early evening. A qualified nurse will assess
your fitness for discharge. If you do not
meet the criteria for same day discharge
you will be required to stay overnight.