302 Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy

Upotjmmfdupnz!boe!! Befopjefdupnz!212; Qspdfevsf!boe!Jnqmjdbujpot! gps!uif!Tvshjdbm!Ufdiopmphjtu Theresa Criscitelli cst, rn, cnor H I S T O R Y onsillectomies and adenoidectomies are one of the oldest surgical procedures known to man, dating back to before the sixth cen tury. 1 Aulus Cornelius Celsus was a Roman physician and writer who removed tonsils by loosening them up with his finger and U 2 then tearing them out. Vinegar mouthwash and other primitive medi cations were the only form of hemostasis. The procedure advanced to the hook and knife method, which was followed by the tonsil guillotine, before the use of a scalpel was finally implemented in 1906.2 L E A R N I N G O B J E C T I V E S N Compare treatment techni ques for tonsillectomy throughout history N Examine the current spectrum of sugical options for tonsillectomy N Assess the implicati ons for the surgical technologi st during this procedure N Explain the steps for pati ent and O.R. preparation for a tonsillectomy N Evaluate the advancement in technology as it relates to tonsil and adenoidectomy FEBRUARY 2009 The Surgical Technologist 65 I N T R O D U C T I O N palatopharyngeal muscle and the superior con The incidence of tonsillectomy and adenoidec strictor muscle. The palatoglossus muscle forms tomy continues to rise – it has been estimated the anterior pillar and the palatopharyngeal that 200,000 of these operations are being per muscle forms the posterior pillar. The tonsillar formed annually in the United States.3 Most ton bed is formed by the superior constrictor muscle sillectomies and adenoidectomies are performed of the pharynx. on children. While teenagers and adults are not Adenoid tissue is lymphoid tissue located exempt, the procedure is less common in these midline in the nasopharynx. The adenoids usu age groups. The main indication for this proce ally enlarge in patients 2.5-years old to 5-years dure is a chronic infection as a result of strep old and then decrease in size in patients around tococcus or staphylococcus bacteria. Tonsil 11-years old, usually becoming atrophic in teen lar hyperplasia, causing airway obstruction, or agers. To this day, there is still controversy over malignancies are other indications for surgery. the function of the tonsils and adenoids. Those The removal of only the adenoids can be per who have the tonsils and adenoids removed do formed to treat recurrent ear infections. Due to not have an adverse effect on immune statue or this prevalence, the surgical technologist must be health and, in fact, asthmatics have a beneficial adept at these procedures to be an intricate part effect postoperatively. of the surgical team. T R A D I T I O N A L M E T H O D The methods of removing tonsils vary and are related to the surgeon’s preference based on the patient’s age, indications and technology avail able. Traditional or extracapsular tonsillectomy refers to the removal of all tonsillar tissue along the capsule. Intracapsular tonsillectomy indi cates the removal of 90-95 percent of the tonsil lar tissue, where a thin layer of tonsillar tissue is deliberately left intact as a protective shield.4 This technique decreases postoperative pain, quickens recovery, and aids in fewer readmissions for com plications. The potential does exist for tonsils to grow back, and they may become infected. Traditionally the mouth is retracted and held open with a self-retaining mouth gag, while the tongue is depressed with a tongue blade of which the distal end is stabilized on the edge of a mayo stand. The posterior and lateral walls of the pal A N A T O M Y ate are carefully inspected and palpated to detect Tonsillectomy is the removal of the palatine or abnormally positioned vessels.5 The superior faucial tonsils, which are lymphatic tissue, in pole of the tonsil is grasped with a long curved the lateral pharyngeal wall of the oralpharynx. Allis and the mucosa of anterior and posterior Blood supply is provided via the ascending and tonsillar pillars are outlined via electrocautery, descending palatine arteries, tonsillar artery and preserving the posterior tonsillar pillar. Using a all small branches of the external carotid artery. Hurd dissector, the plane of the tonsillar capsule The tonsillar capsule is a thin layer of fibrous tis is located and the tonsil is removed by careful sue around each tonsil. The tonsillar fossa is com dissection with electrocautery. Counter traction posed of three muscles: the palatoglossus muscle, is applied with the Allis clamp. The attachment FEBRUARY 2009 66 The Surgical Technologist of the inferior portion of the pharyngeal tonsil attached to bipolar cautery to enhance its effect to the lingual tonsil is transected, also via cau by coagulating while shaving. Often monopolar tery or tonsil snare, and the tonsil is completely cautery is used in conjunction with the shaver to removed.5 Plain gut suture can be utilized to control bleeding. ligate small vessels to prevent bleeding. Tonsil A harmonic scalpel can also be utilized, which ties can be made by creating a slip knot with a free is a high-frequency ultrasound vibration of a tita plain gut tie. This is then placed around the vessel nium blade to precisely cut and coagulate tonsil that is clamped. Any residual bleeding vessels are tissue with minimal thermal tissue damage. This addressed at this time and a tonsil sponge is placed blade vibrates at 55.5 kHz and actually breaks for pressure to aid in coagulation. This procedure hydrogen bonds of proteins to generate heat from is then repeated on the tissue f riction.2 The opposite side. Upon thermal tissue damage completion, the phar is less, due to the lower ynx is inspected, the Aulus Cornelius Celsus was a temperature of the har mouth gag is removed, Roman physician and writer who monic scalpel. and the jaw is examined removed tonsils by loosening Some surgeons may prior to extubation. them up with his finger and then choose to use the Cob Intracapsular tonsil tearing them out. lator, which is a bipolar lectomies can be per radiofrequency low- formed utilizing the level energy device that same suspension and t ransfers to s o dium similar instrumentation, but the blunt dissection ions, creating a thin layer of plasma.2 This shrinks is unnecessary due to the fact that the tonsil is the tonsil tissue and, after 8-12 weeks, the resid vaporized or shaved, leaving a portion of the ton ual tissue is reabsorbed by the body.6 This effect sil behind. is achieved at low levels of temperature causing minimal thermal tissue damage, which in turn A D D I T I O N A L M E T H O D S alleviates postoperative pain. Other methods can be utilized, such as CO2, KTP A newer technique that is still emerging is or Nd:Yag laser to vaporize the tonsillar tissue the use of the PlasmaKnife. A low-temperature directly or through a microscope or endoscope. plasma field is created by a triode-tipped instru Each of these lasers requires safety precautions ment with a bipolar coagulation to precisely and that must be taken, specific to the type of laser hemostatically remove the tonsils with less pain. used. All lasers must be operated by a qualified The process also affords the patient accelerated person who has completed specific laser compe healing.7 This method creates minimal collater tencies. The operating room must be equipped al thermal damage to the tonsil fossa and many with laser signs, proper eye wear for not only the patients can resume normal eating and drinking staff, but the patient, and appropriate laser instru quickly after surgery. mentation. It is recommended that water is also Adenoids, being a midline structure and available in a basin in order to put out any fire located in the superior nasopharynx, must be that can quickly ignite when using laser equip visualized by inserting a red rubber catheter ment. The laser affords the patient less postop nasally and pulling it out through the mouth to erative pain, more rapid healing, less blood loss, retract the soft palate. A laryngeal mirror is uti and less operative time.2 lized to carefully visualize the adenoid tissue dur A microdebrider which is a powered rotary ing the procedure. A nasal endoscope can also shaving device with continuous suction can be be helpful to visualize the superior adenoid and used to shave out the tonsil using the intracap check for choanal obstruction. Adenoidectomies sular approach. This microdebrider can also be can be performed via cautery to vaporize the tis- FEBRUARY 2009 The Surgical Technologist 67 sue, an adenotome or curette to scrape the tissue, P O S T O P E R A T I V E C O M P L I C A T I O N S a microdebrieder to shave the tissue or a Cobla Postoperative complications share the general tor to shrink the tissue. After removal of the ade risks of any surgical procedure associated with noid, the remaining bed is packed with a tonsil general anesthesia, bleeding, infection and dehy sponge, preferably soaked in saline to avoid the dration. Anesthesia risks are directly related to risk of airway fire during cauterization proximal the health of the patient and are rare. Bleeding, to this site.5 the most prevalent complication, usually occurs five to 10 days postoperatively, when the eschar, P A T I E N T A N D O . R . P R E P A R A T I O N or scab, begins to fall off.

Load more