In this video, Mount Sinai pediatric and general otolaryngologists perform tonsillectomy on a patient with obstructive sleep apnea. The tonsils are lymphoid tissue at the back of the throat, and may enlarge or become chronically infected. When they enlarge, they may cause voice changes, snoring, and obstructive sleep apnea. When infected, they may form an abscess (pus pocket), however they often just cause a sore throat (pharyngitis). When someone has strep throat, the tonsils can get covered with white patches, or exudates. Tonsil infections often go hand in hand with adenoid infections; adenoids are tonsil-like lymphoid tissue at the back of the nose between the eustachian tubes.

Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (adenotonsillectomy when done together) is often first line treatment for children with obstructive sleep apnea. Surgery is typically done on an outpatient basis and patients go home the same day. Patients with severe sleep apnea may stay overnight.

For more information, go to:
https://www.mountsinai.org/care/ent/services/general
https://www.mountsinai.org/care/ent/services/pediatric

Featured Faculty

Aldo V. Londino III, MD
Assistant Professor, Otolaryngology
Mount Sinai Health System

Michael A. Rothschild, MD
Professor, Otolaryngology
Mount Sinai Health System

Daniel Alicea Delgado, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Mount Sinai Health System

Anthony Del Signore, MD, PharmD
Assistant Professor, Otolaryngology
Mount Sinai Health System
Director of Rhinology and Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery
Mount Sinai Union Square

Courtney T. Chou, MD
Assistant Professor, Otolaryngology, Sleep Medicine
New York Eye & Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai

Zan Mra, MD
Assistant Professor, Otolaryngology
Mount Sinai Brooklyn

Isaac Namdar, MD
Associate Professor, Otolaryngology
Mount Sinai West

Edward J. Shin, MD
Professor, Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) / Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai

Gregory P. Tsai, MD
Assistant Professor, Otolaryngology
Mount Sinai Health System

Benjamin C. Tweel, MD
Medical Director, Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
Mount Sinai Health System

Joshua Zeiger, MD
Assistant Professor, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Mount Sinai Health System

Zachary G. Schwam, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Division of Otology-Neurotology, Lateral Skull Base Surgery
Mount Sinai Health System