Removal of tonsils in chronic tonsillitis: reviews. Whether it is necessary to delete tonsils at a chronic tonsillitis?

In the depth of the pharynx, on its lateral surfaces, there are two formations called tonsils (tonsils). They got their name because of their similarity to the walnut of the same name. Glands belong to the glands of the body's immune system and are part of the lymphoepithelial pharyngeal ring.

Functions of tonsils

Even if you suffer from chronic tonsillitis, before deciding to remove tonsils, you need to figure out what they are needed for in the body. The main function of glands is to provide protection. These entities are engaged in the disposal of viral and bacterial infections that enter the body by airborne droplets. After the removal of the tonsils, this barrier disappears, so on the way the microbes are already worthless. In addition, the palatine tonsils produce protective substances. The tissues of these formations produce interferon, lymphocytes and gamma globulin.

The reasons for removing the glands

But in some cases the palatine tonsils stop coping with their protective functions. As a result of worsening of the general state of immunity, a chronic disease known as chronic tonsillitis may occur. Removal of tonsils in this case is by no means the only way to solve the problem. Although it seems to many to be the simplest.

The question of removal arises in those cases when the palatine tonsils can not resist microbes, getting airborne way into the body. In this case, the patient suffers from recurrent angina, permanent exacerbations of chronic tonsillitis. In the palatine tonsils in these cases is an infectious and inflammatory process. In the gaps, pus accumulates and stagnates. These masses inflame and irritate the tissues of the tonsils. In the absence of treatment, tonsils become a constant source of infection of the body, because in these weakened formations the pathogenic microbes begin to multiply. In those cases when conservative treatment does not give positive results, or there is a long intoxication of the whole organism, the doctor can advise you to carry out the removal of tonsils. The patients' reviews mostly say that people regret that they hastened to agree to an operative intervention. Therefore, do not hurry, if not all the methods of treatment are tried.

Causes of chronic tonsillitis

In order not to bring glands to a critical condition, it is necessary to know what exactly can contribute to the development of such a disease as chronic tonsillitis. Removal of tonsils, reviews of which are rarely positive, with neglected forms of the disease is often the only way out. If you do not want to bring glands to this state, it is important to know that chronic tonsillitis is caused by untreated to the end of angina. Adverse external factors include bad ecology, air pollution, low quality drinking water. In addition, the development of the disease can lead to severe stress, a general weakening of the body's defenses, various diseases of the oral cavity or nose. Ordinary caries or purulent sinusitis can cause the patient to become infected with palatine tonsils.

Symptoms of chronic tonsillitis

Of course, a little pain and a sore throat several times a year is not a reason to talk about the need for surgical intervention. Chronic tonsillitis has slightly different symptoms. These include aching pain in joints, muscles, heart, kidneys, lumbar region, sensation of foreign body in the throat, weakness, increased fatigue, a marked decrease in efficiency. Symptoms include subfebrile temperature, the appearance of persistent rashes on the skin and even a bad mood.

The doctor says that it is necessary to remove tonsils in chronic tonsillitis, when the disease threatens complications. It can lead to heart disease - myocarditis, kidney damage - glomerulonephritis, inflammation of the joints - rheumatism. This is due to the fact that the microbes that multiply in the weakened tissues of the tonsils, produce toxins. Some of them fall into the general bloodstream of the body and damage the cartilaginous and ligamentous tissues. Others can lead to subfebrile temperature, changes in analysis, and cause headaches. If the tonsils are streptococcus, belonging to group A, then the protective cells of the body will attack it. The protein of this bacterium is similar to that found in the connective tissue of the heart muscle. Because of this, immunity begins to attack her. This leads to disturbances in the rhythm of prolapses of the heart valves. As a result, bacterial endocarditis or myocarditis can develop. In addition, chronic tonsillitis can lead to the appearance of allergic reactions. Itching, rashes and even asthma may develop.

Operative intervention

Despite the fact that many doctors recommend the removal of tonsils in chronic tonsillitis, the testimonies indicate that it is better to try various conservative methods at first, consult several clinics with different ENT doctors. Of course, if they do not help, then you will have to go to surgery. In most cases, doctors recommend a bilateral tonsillectomy. This removes the entire tissue of these protective formations. But sometimes it is enough to carry out a partial removal of tonsils in chronic tonsillitis. This operation is called bilateral tonsillitis.

You can choose the most suitable variant of surgical intervention in your case only by a specialist, based on anamnesis and general health condition. Do not insist on conducting an operation on your own, if the doctor advises you to try to treat chronic tonsillitis. Removal of tonsils (reviews under general anesthesia recommend doing this operation) is carried out only when there is absolute evidence for this. Previously, such a surgical intervention was conducted only under local anesthesia, but thanks to the appearance of modern anesthetic drugs, a complete anesthesia is now practiced.

Methods for removing tonsils

The main method of getting rid of palatine formations in the throat is usual surgical intervention. It is carried out using surgical scissors and a wire loop. This method is quite common and well worked out by surgeons, it is the most commonly used to remove tonsils in chronic tonsillitis. The patients' testimonies indicate that during the operation, only discomfort is disturbed.

If the doctor recommends partial excision of the tissue of the tonsils, then a special device is used - a microdebrider. With its help excised diseased areas. Removal of tonsils in chronic tonsillitis with this method allows the patient to recover quickly. But it does not make sense when the tissue is badly affected.

In addition to the usual surgical intervention, the doctor can now advise using an ultrasound scalpel, electric current, radio waves or a laser. All these methods allow you to quickly remove tonsils in chronic tonsillitis. The methods developed by modern medicine make it possible to shorten the time of both the operation and the postoperative period.

Laser intervention

If you want to almost immediately return to normal life after the operation, during which the tonsils will be removed, reviews of each of these methods will allow you to make the right choice. For example, laser treatment lasts no more than 30 minutes, and a full recovery takes 4 days. Another advantage of this method of getting rid of tonsils is that it is absolutely bloodless. The beam coagulates all the damaged vessels. If you decide to remove tonsils with chronic tonsillitis with a laser, then you will not feel all the "delights" of the postoperative period. After all, soreness after such an intervention will be less pronounced.

But, like the usual tonsillectomy, laser intervention must be prepared. First, all potential foci of infection in the nasal and oral cavity are eliminated. It is also desirable to pass urine and blood for analysis, to take pictures of the heart and lungs. This will help assess the general condition of the body and understand how the chronic tonsillitis affected it.

Removal of the tonsils with a laser is performed under local anesthesia. If the patient is overly excited, he may be given the drug "Atropine" or "Pantopone" half an hour before the intervention. During the procedure, glands are irradiated several times. The duration of each irradiation does not exceed 15 seconds. In the first place, the tissues of the posterior and anterior arches are exposed. Only after that the specialist starts working on the surrounding tissue. In this case, only local anesthesia is used, and the patient should be conscious in a sitting position.

Other methods

In addition to laser destruction, the removal of tonsils in chronic tonsillitis can be carried out using electrical current. When this method is used, diseased tissues undergo electrocoagulation. This operation does not cause pain, after it there is no bleeding. But this procedure is considered relatively dangerous, since current can damage healthy tissues.

The removal of tonsils in chronic tonsillitis in adults can also be carried out with the help of bipolar radiofrequency ablation. When it is used, the tissues of the glands dissect at the molecular level. At the same time, neither laser, nor current, nor heat acts on them. That is why complications after such intervention practically does not happen.

Surgery

Despite the variety of modern methods, it is often enough to remove tonsils in chronic tonsillitis using a standard method with clamps and scissors. The operation is done through the open mouth without any external incisions. After its completion, the base of the glands is cauterized. The whole procedure lasts up to 1.5 hours. It can be carried out under both local and general anesthesia.

After removal of the tonsils, the patient is placed on the right side, and his neck is covered with ice. This causes a reduction in blood vessels and prevents the occurrence of postoperative bleeding. In addition, a course of antibiotic therapy is prescribed.

On the day of surgery, the patient is allowed only a few mouthfuls of water. In the next few days, the diet includes liquid mashed food, which is used only in a cold form. Such nutrition promotes the healing of wounds that have arisen after the removal of the tonsils.

The responses of many patients say that the recovery period after the usual surgical intervention is quite difficult. Many complain of growing pain. Immediately after the operation, they are not very pronounced, but after a few days intensify. In a week, the pain can begin to give in the ear. Especially it becomes apparent when swallowing. But many people think that the worst condition is the day when tonsils are removed in case of chronic tonsillitis. It is painful during the operation itself, most patients are interested. But they forget that the surgical intervention is performed under general or local anesthesia. Unpleasant sensations appear when the action of anesthesia recedes.

Effects of getting rid of tonsils

A few decades ago, tonsils were considered a hotbed of infection, so they were removed to many. But now specialists understand that this is a barrier for infections, which prevents bacteria from penetrating further into the body. After you have removed the tonsils, the body will become less protected. Out of the 6 tonsils in the body there will be only 4. Between them and the entire load will be distributed.

Do not forget that tonsils are not only a barrier to infections, but also an important part of the immune system. In addition, they produce substances that participate in the process of blood formation.

If it is a question of children, doctors, as a rule, try to keep glands at least up to the age of eight. Removal of tonsils in chronic tonsillitis in infants is recommended only when the condition begins to threaten the normal functioning of other organs and body systems.

Patient Reviews

Each patient, before agreeing to surgery, wants to know the opinion not only of specialists, but also of other people who have already had tonsils removed. The reviews depend, as a rule, on what kind of condition the patient had before the operation. Those who have been persecuted by persistent chronic inflammation in both the nasopharynx and other organs, often relieve the relief of the glands after removing the glands. After eliminating the main source of infection, the body begins to fight on its own.

But it should be noted once again that such actions are justified if all methods of conservative treatment have already been tried. These include antibacterial, decongestant, antiseptic, immunostimulating therapy. If such treatment can achieve remission for at least a few months, then it is considered effective. In this case, the operation is not even conducted.

Hardware treatment

If conservative therapy does not give positive results, then before deciding to remove tonsils in chronic tonsillitis, it is advisable to try hardware treatment. Initially, the doctor cleans the lacunae of the glands. This process can be carried out with a special syringe or with the help of the Tonzilor nozzle. After cleansing the surface of the tonsils, they are exposed to low-frequency ultrasound, while applying a drug solution to the tissues of the glands. But on this hardware treatment does not end. The problem spots are also treated with the "Lugol" spray, and laser therapy sessions are conducted, aimed at relieving inflammation and reducing the flow of tissues. Also one of the stages is the sanation of microflora, which is caused by ultraviolet irradiation.

If all the tried medicinal and hardware methods do not give the desired result, then there is nothing left to do but to agree to the removal of tonsils in chronic tonsillitis. A photo of healthy and sick glands helps many to decide on conducting an operative intervention.

It is also important to know that children and young people often face this problem. The question of whether the removal of tonsils in chronic tonsillitis after 50 years is rare. At this age, there should be absolute indications for the operation. It is possible if there is a risk of serious complications. In all other cases only conservative therapy is indicated.