What are the risks of the procedure?

Generally speaking, tonsillectomies and adenoidectomies are common, simple, and safe procedures that rarely result in serious complications. Here are some potential complications:

Bleeding: During the procedure there is generally little bleeding. The odds of returning to the operating room after the procedure because of bleeding is 1:100. The first risk occurs within the first 24 hours of surgery. The second risk occurs 7-21 days later when the clot may become dislodged. A small amount of bleeding may occur within the first week (typically stops by gargling with ice cold water). If bleeding persists you should present immediately to the emergency room for evaluation.

Risk from Anesthesia: All tonsil and adenoidectomies are done under general anesthesia (you will be asleep). Although extremely rare, complications may occur from the medicines and the procedure itself from anesthesia.

Velopharyngeal Insufficiency or Nasopharyngeal Stenosis: Occasionally after the surgery you may develop velopharyngeal insufficiency, which means that sounds, liquids, or food may escape back up the nose affecting speech and/or swallowing. This problem usually resolves within a few months. On rare occasion a second corrective operation may be required. Nasopharyngeal Stenosis is a rare condition that occurs if the back of the throat scars together preventing air to pass through the nose.