Tonsillectomy–Introduction, Surgical Instruments, And Procedure

 

Tonsillectomy is the surgical removal of oval-shaped tissues called tonsils. It is the most commonly done surgical procedure. Many children develop inflamed tonsils that can cause discomfort. More than 500,000 tonsillectomy procedures are performed annually in the United States alone. Most of the procedures were performed in children who were younger than 15. This surgery is commonly performed to treat sleep-disordered breathing and recurrent throat infections by removing inflamed tonsils.

Symptoms

Inflamed tonsils (tonsillitis) have many symptoms. The inflamed tonsils become red and swollen. Small white and yellow patches appear on the tonsils. The patient can have a sore throat, fever, muffled voice, bad breath, stomachache, neck pain, and headache. It can also be difficult to swallow food.

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) can cause major discomfort during sleep. In this condition, the airway gets completely or partially blocked during sleep. It can cause fatigue, hyperactivity, and aggression. A patient with SBD may snore, have a restless sleep, and show poor performance at school. Children with inflamed tonsils take more antibiotics, visit hospitals more often and catch respiratory infections.

Commonly Used Surgical Instruments during Tonsillectomy

Multiple surgical instruments are used during tonsillectomy to remove tonsils in an atraumatic manner. Some of the most commonly used instruments are given below:

McIvor Mouth Gag

McIvor Mouth Gags are used to keep the mouth open in order to expose the surgical site. They help in stabilizing the head of the patient during surgery. They stop the patient from closing his mouth intentionally or unintentionally during the surgery to save him from any kind of accident.

White Tonsil Forceps

White Tonsil Forceps are used during tonsillectomy for grasping and holding tonsils. They provide a firm grip over the tonsils and do not let them slip. They come with finger ring handles that fit comfortably in hand and provide maximum control over the instrument.

Curved Metzenbaum Scissors

Curved Metzenbaum Scissors easily enter deeper surgical sites and help in dissecting delicate tissues. They also come with tungsten carbide inserts for increased durability and strength. You can also get them in a supercut design that features one serrated blade and one sharp blade for a smooth cutting action. The serrated surface does not let the tissues slip.

Fisher Tonsil Knife

Fisher Tonsil Knife is a surgical instrument widely used for the excision of tonsils during tonsillectomy procedures. These knives are quite sharp and sturdy. They ensure a fast and atraumatic cutting action. They keep the surrounding tissues safe from harm.

Tyding snares

Tyding Tonsil Snares are commonly used during tonsillectomy procedures. They have a unique right-angle design that allows the user to encircle the inflamed tonsils easily using a wire loop snare. They feature a long shank that helps in reaching the tonsils inside the mouth.

Barnhill Adenoid curettes

Barnhill Adenoid Curettes are used during adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy procedures to excise or remove soft adenoid tissues. They come with an ergonomic handle that provides optimal control over the instrument and makes the procedure highly precise and accurate.

Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy Instrument Set

Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy Instrument Set includes all necessary instruments for performing tonsillectomy. They are all made from high-quality German stainless steel that makes them strong and durable. This kit includes 23 instruments, such as adenoid nasal punch, knife, yankauer suction tube, McIvor mouth gag, Metzenbaum scissors, Mikulich hemostatic forceps, backhouse towel clamp, Ballenger tonsil sponge, Crile wood needle holder, Barnhill adenoid curettes, sage tonsil snare, fisher tonsil knife, tonsil forceps, pillar retractor, hemostatic forceps, etc. This kit will fulfill all your needs without causing any trouble.

Procedure

A tonsillectomy procedure performed using sharp dissection is called cold tonsillectomy. Before starting the procedure, a McIvor mouth gag is applied to keep the mouth of the patient open. This allows the surgeon to see the surgical site. During this procedure, tonsils are grasped using white tonsil forceps. The surgeon uses Metzenbaum scissors to identify and check the avascular plane. Fisher tonsil knife helps in finally removing the tonsil tissues from the fossa. The tyding snare easily encircles the tonsils and separates them from the inferior pole. A tonsil sponge is used to apply pressure to the surgical site in order to perform hemostasis.

Surgical instruments have been in use for decades now. There is no surgery that can be done without them. You can get these premium-grade surgical instruments online from relevant websites. Many companies, especially the ones in the U.S. and Canada, offer free delivery services. Always go for the instruments manufactured with real German stainless steel. It keeps them safe from rust and corrosion. You can clean the instruments using warm water. They can also be sterilized using an autoclave machine that uses heat to kill bacteria.

Link: https://complextime.com/tonsillectomy-introduction-surgical-instruments-and-procedure/