Recurrent tonsilitis - anyone familiar with "shaving" of tonsils? WWYD???

DS is scheduled for surgery on Monday to have his tonsils and adenoids removed. They are doing a newer procedure in which they "shave" down the tonsils...they remove 90-95% of the tonsils, but leave a layer of tissue covering the neck muscles, etc. The ENT feels this is a better procedure for DS being he is so young, only 3, and the surgery is less painful, quicker recovery, less chance of infection and bleeding.

My concern is being they are still leaving a part of his tonsils behind (even though it will only be 5-10%) he will continue to get tonsillitis. He has had tonsillitis and been on antibiotics for tonsillitis 5 times since December (maybe 6 now, I have lost count). We actually went for his pre-op clearance at the ped. yesterday and he had pus covering his tonsils again and he just got off antibiotics last week. Fortunately we caught it at the beginning and he didnt develope his usual high fever. The ped. put him on another round of anbitiocs and said as long as he doesnt have a fever and his tonsils are not red and visibly infected on Monday they will perform the surgery.

This is constant...he gets off antibiotics and a few days layer his tonsils are infected again. His tonsils in general are huge...on a good day they cover 85% of the back of his throat. He doesnt have sleep apnea but does snore and is a restless sleeper.

I am assuming the ENT is going to speak to us before surgery on Monday...if not I am going to ask to. I am wondering if I should push for a full tonsillectomy as opposed to just a partial? I dont want to put DS through a tougher recovery or more pain than he needs BUT I dont want to have this surgery done and than 2 months from now, him get another case of tonsillitis. I have been doing some research online and although the chance is minimal of recurrent infection even after partial tonsillectomy there is still that chance. I dont want to have to bring him back in for surgery in a few years to "finish the job", KWIM? I'm wondering if they keep getting infected b/c they are so big and are "catching" the bacteria which is what they are meant for anyway...maybe when they are shaved down they won't get infected as easily?

I dont know...I'm so confused. It's not the surgery that scares me. It's the recovery. I just dont want him to be in more pain than necessary


ETA: From what I have read online, the shaving of tonsils is recommended for kids who have large tonsils that cause sleeping problems. They recommend a full tonsillectomy for kids with recurrent tonsilitis. My ENT says the new thought is to only perform a full tonsillectomy on kids who get recurrent strep infections. DS does not get strep...never has. His tonsils just get big and inflamed.

Message edited 4/9/2010 9:42:45 PM.

Re: Recurrent tonsilitis - anyone familiar with "shaving" of tonsils? WWYD???

just be careful there are studies out there where if you leave some of the tonsil behind it can grow back. This happened to my frd.

Re: Recurrent tonsilitis - anyone familiar with "shaving" of tonsils? WWYD???

Re: Recurrent tonsilitis - anyone familiar with "shaving" of tonsils? WWYD???

My son had his tonsils shaved back in feb...his adenoids too---the ent said that they have shaved adenoids for years instead of taking them out, and just started to do that with the tonsils

My son had his done because he had sleep apnea, and his tonsils were HUGE (when we saw the ENT at first, he said they were a 3+ out of 4...when they went in to do the surgery, the dr said they were all the way down his throat and they were sooo much bigger than they thought....) He never once has strep throat or an ear infection.

Which ent do you see?

Re: Recurrent tonsilitis - anyone familiar with "shaving" of tonsils? WWYD???

Jordan's adenoids have begun growing back after a complete removal. I personally would remove them all the way if I was going to put my kid through surgery. JMHO

Re: Recurrent tonsilitis - anyone familiar with "shaving" of tonsils? WWYD???

Posted by ChrisDee

Jordan's adenoids have begun growing back after a complete removal. I personally would remove them all the way if I was going to put my kid through surgery. JMHO

Re: Recurrent tonsilitis - anyone familiar with "shaving" of tonsils? WWYD???

Get the total removal, my daughter's grew back and the second surgery was far worse in recovery.

Message edited 4/11/2010 1:02:01 AM.

Re: Recurrent tonsilitis - anyone familiar with "shaving" of tonsils? WWYD???

okay - this is coming from a LONG time ago...

when my mom was a child - she had this problem - they took out her tonsils - and she KEPT GETTING SICK afterwards too.

it happened to me as well - i was sick CONSTANTLY - not kidding. Sunny one day, rainy the next, i'm sick - tonsilitis & otitis media (ear infection). Because of my mom's history - she refused to let them take out my tonsils - apparently it really frustrated her and she didn't want me to have that happen. I continued the 'sickness' trend until well out of high school & then 'grew out of it'.

i've never heard of the shaving tonsils thing - but if you trust this doctor - i'd follow the recommendation - if ANY part of you is concerned or worried - why not get a 2nd opinion...

Re: Recurrent tonsilitis - anyone familiar with "shaving" of tonsils? WWYD???