less pain… more ice cream!

story by | dr. william c. porter

We’veall heard of tonsils, but what do they do? And when they need to be removed, what is the best option?

Tonsils are the clumps of tissue located on both sides of the back of your throat. Their function is to fight infection by trapping bacteria and viruses entering through the throat and producing antibodies. The most common reason tonsils are removed is because they are too large and block the throat. This can result in interference with normal breathing, nasal sinus drainage, sleeping, swallowing and speaking. Tonsils can also aggravate snoring and can even cause sleep apnea -- an occasional stoppage of breathing. Recurring tonsillitis, infection of the tonsils, is also a reason for removal. Common guidelines for removal due to tonsillitis include: occurring 3-4 times per year for three consecutive years or longer; 5 times per year for two consecutive years with no prior problems; or 6-7 times in a twelve month period, with no prior problems.

Your childhood tonsillectomy may bring back memories of a painful experience. A traditional tonsillectomy involves using heat, at temperatures of 300-400 degrees, to remove the tonsils. This causes significant damage to surrounding healthy tissue resulting in increased pain and recovery time. Now there is a better option for our kids called Coblation.

Coblation combines gentle radiofrequency energy with saline to quickly and safely remove tonsils. Currents are delivered through a hand held wand that is cooled by the saline. The molecular structure of the tonsils is broken down and the tissue is quickly cut through and removed. This procedure touches only the tonsils, resulting in minimal damage to the surrounding tissue.

Coblation takes less than 30 minutes and is done under general anesthesia. Most patients stay in the surgery center only 2-3 hours after surgery and are then able to go home. Down time at home is also significantly reduced in most cases. Most patients report less pain and are able to return to normal activity and diet within just a few days. Traditional tonsillectomies typically required up to 10 to 14 days for recovery time.

At William C. Porter, MD, you will find a medical practice that is surrounded by friendliness from the moment you walk in. since 1984, Dr. Porter has treated thousands of patients with proven treatments for children’s ear nose and throat conditions, sinus problems, sleep disorders, breathing problems, nasal blockage, voice and swallowing difficulties, hearing loss and more. The first to bring coblation to the fm area, Dr. Porter has successfully performed the procedure on nearly 200 patients. For more information call 701.235.0161 or 866.96.ENTMD or visit www.PorterENT.com.

100 South 4th Street, Suite 608

Fargo, ND