Tonsillectomy: Local Results and Influence of the Operation on Surrounding Tissues

Abstract

The problem of the recurrence of tonsillar tissue following tonsillectomy is one that has received much consideration. In spite of many articles drawing attention to the local results of this operation and investigations to reveal the causes of the recurrence of tonsillar tissue, tonsillectomized patients are constantly returning to those who operated on them, not only unimproved symptomatically but with throats showing the signs of incomplete and poorly performed operations. It is true that the surgical work on many of them has been performed by general practitioners, general surgeons and at times pediatricians, but on many others it has been done by specialists in otolaryngology. It is my purpose in this presentation to reveal the results of a statistical study of tonsillectomized persons as regards the recurrence of tonsillar tissue, injury to the faucial pillars and hypertrophy of pharyngeal lymphoid tissue and to draw a comparison between results obtained by practitioners and those obtained by specialists.

A Controlled Study of the Effects of Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy in Children

“…In earlier surveys such as those of Rhoads and Dick (1928) and Campbell (1939) showing 70-80 per cent. remnants in student girls, it is likely that the findings reflected in part the results of the guillotine procedure.…”

Failure of Tonsillectomy

“…Every patient who had had a tonsillectomy was interrogated and examined. They were asked (1) their age, (2) the age at tonsillectomy, (3) where the operation was done, (4) whether the surgeon was a "nose and throat" specialist, (5) why the operation was performed, (6) what anesthetic was used, (7) whether any benefit was obtained, and (8) whether to their knowledge any tonsillar tissue was left. Then the pharnyx was carefully examined with the use of a good light, a metal tongue depressor, and a tonsil pillar re¬ tractor.…”