Your child needs an operation called an adenoidectomy to take out their adenoids. Adenoids are lumps of tissue, up behind the nose. You cannot see your child's adenoids when looking in the mouth.
Removing enlarged adenoids
Your child may have had enlarged adenoids since birth, or they may have grown too large from repeated infections. Enlarged adenoids can interfere with your child's breathing, especially at night when they are sleeping. Taking out adenoids improves breathing.
Enlarged adenoids can also affect the tubes that connect the middle ears and the back of the nose. If your child often has ear infections, an adenoidectomy may help them have fewer ear infections.
An otolaryngologist/head and neck surgeon will do the surgery. An otolaryngologist (say: OH-toe-lar-ing-GOLL-oh-jist) is a doctor who specializes in problems of the ears, nose and throat.
Before the operation
Several hours before the operation, your child will need to stop eating and drinking. The doctor or nurse will tell you when your child must stop eating and drinking.
Write this information down here:
The date and time of the operation:
When your child must stop eating:
When your child must stop drinking clear fluids:
Other things to remember:
Surgery to remove the adenoids
The doctor will give your child a special sleep medicine called a general anaesthetic. This will make sure your child sleeps through the operation and does not feel any pain.
While your child is asleep, the doctor will take out the adenoids through your child's mouth. Your child will not get stitches. The operation will take between 20 and 45 minutes.
You will be able to see your child as soon as they are fully awake
A volunteer from the Surgical Waiting Room will bring you to see your child.
After the operation
After the operation, we will take your child to the recovery room, also called the Post Anaesthetic Care Unit (PACU). This is where your child will wake up. Your child will stay in the PACU for about one hour. We will then move your child to a room on the nursing unit.
Your child will be closely monitored on the nursing unit
- Your child will be encouraged to take fluids by mouth. Your child will start with sips of clear fluids (liquids you can see through), ice chips or freezies. Once your child can take sips, they can then drink liquids from a cup.
- Your child's temperature and vital signs will be taken regularly.
- Your child will still have an IV in their arm. When it is no longer needed for fluids or medicine, it will be taken out.
- Your child will be given pain medicine if needed.
- The nursing staff will watch your child for vomiting (throwing up) or bleeding.
- The nurses will tell the doctor if there are any complications.
- When your child is fully awake, they can get up with help to use the washroom.
- Your child may throw up thick, brownish-coloured liquid if they swallowed some blood during or after the operation. This is normal. If your child keeps throwing up, we will give them medicine through the IV to help settle their upset stomach.
Managing your child's pain after the operation
If your child has pain after the operation, they will be given pain medicine by a liquid to swallow. Your child should have very little pain after the operation.
Your child will probably be able to go home on the same day
Most children are ready to go home from the hospital after about three hours in the nursing unit. Sometimes, children need to stay for a longer time.
You should take your child home in a car or a taxi. For your child's comfort and safety, do not take your child home by bus or subway.
Caring for your child at home
Pain
You may give your child medicine for pain.
You may receive a prescription for pain medication before you leave the hospital. Follow the dosage instructions given to you by the pharmacist. Although these prescription pain medications can be beneficial, they may have potentially serious complications if not used properly.
When using these medications, if you notice any changes in either breathing or level of drowsiness that concern you, stop the medication and seek medical attention. If your child is unresponsive, call 911 immediately.
Do not give your child over-the-counter medicine that may have a sedative effect (makes people sleepy) while giving the prescription for pain medicine. Examples of these medicines are decongestants and antihistamines. Discuss these medications with your pharmacist.
You may give your child acetaminophen and/or ibuprofen if they have pain. Give the dose printed on the bottle for your child's weight. Do not give your child acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) for two weeks after the surgery. ASA could increase your child's risk of bleeding after the operation. Check with the nurse or doctor first before giving these medicines to your child.
Diet
It is very important that your child have lots to drink after the operation. Let your child drink as much liquid as they want. When your child can drink liquids without throwing up, they can eat soft foods. Then they can go back to eating what they normally eat.
Mouth care
Your child can rinse their mouth with water or brush their teeth gently. Do not let your child gargle.
Teach your child to sneeze with their mouth open. Do not let your child blow their nose for at least one week after the operation. They should dab their nose with a tissue if it is dripping.
To help your child breathe more comfortably, you can use a machine called a humidifier. This machine makes the air moist with a cool mist. Put it at your child's bedside.
Your child's voice may sound as if they are talking through their nose. This is normal. It may last for a few weeks or up to three months, if the adenoids were very large.
Activity
Your child should limit their activity for about two or three days after the operation. Ask your doctor when it will be okay for your child to play contact sports again.
Your child may shower or bathe as usual. Your child should stay away from crowds and people with infections and colds. Your child may return to school or daycare five days after the operation. You should not let your child go on long trips out of town for two weeks.
Your child may need a follow-up appointment
If your otolaryngology doctor has requested to see your child again in the clinic, the clinic will make an appointment for your child.
When to see a doctor
Please call your child's otolaryngologist, the otolaryngology clinic nurse or your family doctor if your child has any of the following signs after going home:
- fever of 38.5°C (101°F) or higher
- vomiting (throwing up) that does not stop
- pain that gets worse
- refusing to drink
- child does not urinate (pee) within 12 hours of the operation
- fresh blood in the nose or mouth
If your child is bleeding, having trouble breathing, or if you have additional concerns, take your child to the closest emergency department.
Write down contact information here:
Otolaryngologist's name and number:
Otolaryngology clinic number:
Family doctor's name and number: