The preferred indications for tonsillectomy are acute infections of the tonsils with repeated indication for antibiotics treatment within the last two or three years before surgery, or up to seven infections per year. Other indications are hyperplasia of the tonsils with mechanical obstruction, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (O-SAS), occult tonsillitis or tonsil origin sepsis (phlegmonosis), tonsil origin infections (rheumatic fever, acute nephritis, pustulosis palmaris et plantaris), the suspicion of malignancy, mononucleosis, myofunctional distress of the orofacial region, suspicious bacteriology of the hyperplastic tonsils, repeated halitosis of elder children after exclusion of other causes. The main indications for tonsillectomy should prevent further distress of immune defense; indication must take clue that the tonsillectomy may prevent further infections of the upper airways and may have a positive effect on sinusitis and bronchitis. A prophylaxis for endocarditis is necessary for patients with defects of heart valve, prolaps of mitral valve and hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Antibiotic prophylaxis should be done with amoxicillin or clindamycin. The most common surgical technique is the tonsillectomy by dissection with bipolar diathermy and ligation. Other surgical procedures are surgery by laser or ablation with radiofrequencies. Complications of tonsillectomy are pain (46%), fever (24%) and postoperative bleeding (up to 12%). Bleeding can be dangerous (about 1: 3000 up to 1: 27000 of fatal accidents after tonsillectomy). After surgery with ligation, there may be a small risk for vascular anomalies and perforation. Early bleedings appear within the first 48 hours after surgery, late bleedings after 10 to 14 days. Other rare complications are secondary infection of the tonsillectomy zone, aspiration, dysgeusia, palsies of the hypoglossal nerve, lingual nerve or recurrent laryngeal nerves, meningitis, pharyngeal abscess, Grisel Syndrome (infection of the atlanto-axial articulation), rhinophonia aperta, velopalatinal insufficience by sutures, dental complications, dysfunction of the myofacial articulation. Tonsillectomies in Germany are still done during hospitalization. Most of the 35, 000 operations per year is done by otolaryngologists working in their own offices and in the hospital at the same time. The contact between doctor and patient is very close and it's the same doctor who cares about ambulant and hospital treatment. The average stay in hospital after surgery is 6 to 7 days. International trends go to ambulant surgery for economical reasons. However, medical laws in Germany are quite strict and doctors who may allow their patients to leave the hospital too early have a high risk of punishment in a medicolegal follow-up after possible complications. After tonsillectomy, about 92% have less pain and health complications within four weeks.
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