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A tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure performed to remove the tonsils. In some cases, other types of procedures may be performed to merely reduce the size of the tonsils to prevent them from obstructing the ability to breathe. Tonsillectomies are among the surgical procedures most commonly performed on children in the United States, but they may be performed on people of any age.
The tonsils are two masses of tissue on either side of the ne ck. They are involved in healthy immune system function by filtering germs that enter the airways. However, when the tonsils become diseased they are not effective in immunity, resulting in infection and inflammation of the tonsils (tonsillitis). Strep throat is often associated with inflamed tonsils. Problems that can be caused by tonsillitis include:
Generally, a physician may recommend a tonsillectomy after a patient continues to experience chronic (long-term or recurring) infections despite taking antibiotics or receiving other medical treatment. In other cases, this procedure may be suggested if a patient’s tonsils are large enough that they cause sleep-related problems such as loud snoring or upper-airway obstruction.
Tonsillectomy is no longer the standard treatment for tonsillitis. Patients who have seven or more tonsillar infections each year are good candidates for a tonsillectomy, according to guidelines established by the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. Patients who have chronic sleep disorders related to the size of their tonsils also are urged to consider a tonsillectomy.
Tonsillectomies also are performed when a patient has a tumor on a tonsil or when a physician needs to remove the tonsils to reach the adenoids during an adenoidectomy.
In recent years, some experts have questioned the necessity for the number of tonsillectomies performed each year. For this reason patients, or parents of patients, who are told that they need a tonsillectomy may want to seek a second opinion. | 
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