Tonsillotomy – “trimming” of palatine tonsils

The palatine tonsils (or lateral) are clusters of lymphoid tissue located on the lateral wall of the central throat between palatal arches. In contrast to pharyngeal tonsils, they are easily observed in normal examination of the throat through the mouth. Physiological enlargement of the lateral tonsils, similar to enlargement of the pharyngeal tonsils, is observed in children and is associated with the process of acquiring immunological competences. Excessive hypertrophy of the tonsils is caused by frequent infections of the upper respiratory tract and allergies.
The main symptom of lateral hypertrophy is muffled speech as well as snoring and apnea. Hyperplasia of the side tonsils very frequently coexists with hypertrophy of the pharyngeal tonsils.

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Tonsillotomy consists in trimming the lymphatic tissue of the palatine tonsils and is usually performed together with adenoidectomy (throat tonsillotomy ). The aim of treatment is to reduce the weight of uninfected lymphoid tissue of the side tonsils while maintaining their function. It is necessary to distinguish this operation from tonsillectomy, i.e., removal of all the palatine tonsils together with the pouch.
Tonsillotomy  is performed under general anesthesia. It involves trimming of the medial part of palatine tonsil. The patient is usually discharged home on the day of the procedure. Laryngological examination is recommended on the first day after surgery and after 7-14 days.

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