Tonsillectomy Side Effects and Warnings

Possible Complications

Complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have a tonsillectomy, your doctor will review a list of possible complications which may include:

• Bleeding

• Temporary breathing problems

• Adverse reaction to anesthesia

• Vomiting and dehydration

• Infection

Factors that may increase the risk of complications include:

• Obesity
• Smoking
• Poor nutrition
• Chronic illness
• Sickle cell anemia
• Bleeding disorders
• Recent or current steroid use
• Diabetes
• Intake of anticoagulants or aspirin products
• Dehydration

Be sure to discuss these risks with your doctor before your tonsillectomy.

Call Your Doctor

After you leave the hospital, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:

• Signs of infection, including fever and chills

• Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or discharge from the site where the tonsils were removed

• Nausea and/or vomiting that you cannot control with the medicines you were given after surgery, or which persist for more than two days after discharge from the hospital

• Pain that you cannot control with the medicines you have been given, especially if it prevents you from drinking water

• Cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain

• Spitting or vomiting blood

• New, unexplained symptoms

In case of an emergency, call 911.