Tonsillectomy

Tonsillectomy is the surgical removal of the tonsils, two oval pads of tissue in the back of the throat, one on each side. A tonsillectomy was once a common procedure to treat infections and inflammation of the tonsils. Today, tonsillectomy is typically performed for sleep-disordered breathing, but it may still be a treatment if tonsillitis occurs frequently or does not respond to other treatments. A tonsillectomy may also be necessary to treat breathing problems and other problems associated with enlarged tonsils, as well as to treat rare tonsil diseases.