<unk>  is mainly undertaken for sleep apnea and recurrent or chronic tonsillitis. It is also carried out for peritonsillar abscess, periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and adenitis (PFAPA), guttate psoriasis, nasal airway obstruction, tonsil cancer and diphtheria carrier state. For children,<unk>  is usually combined with the removal of the adenoid. However, it is unclear whether the removal of the adenoid has any additional positive or negative effects for the treatment of recurrent sore throat. Sore throat Surgery is not recommended for those with fewer than seven documented throat infections in the last year, fewer than five each year for the last two years, or fewer than three each year for three years. Severely affected children who undergo surgery on average have one fewer sore throat per year in the subsequent one or two years, compared to those who do not. Specifically one review of five randomized controlled trials, found a decrease from 3.6 to 3.0 episodes in the year following surgery. In less severely affected children, surgery results in an increase, rather than a decrease of sore throats when the sore throat directly following surgery is included. Surgery results in a reduction in school absence in the year after surgery, but the strength of evidence is low. Surgery does not result in an improvement in the quality of life. Benefits of surgery do not persist over time. Those with frequent throat infections often spontaneously improve over a year without surgery. Therefore, a certain number of people who undergo surgery will do so unnecessarily as they would not have had further episodes of tonsillitis had they not had surgery. Evidence in adults is unclear. In 2019, the American Academy of Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) recommended:Caregivers and patients who meet the appropriate criteria for<unk>  as described here should be advised of only modest anticipated benefits of<unk> , as weighed against the natural history of resolution with watchful waiting, as well as the risk of surgical morbidity and complications and the unknown risk of general anesthesia exposure in children Many cases of the sore throat have other causes than tonsillitis and<unk>  is therefore not indicated for those cases. The diagnosis of tonsillitis is often made without<unk> sting for bacteria. The UK National Health Service states, that it's very rare that someone needs to have their tonsils taken out, and it is usually only necessary in case of severe tonsillitis that keeps coming back. Obstructive sleep apnea<unk>  improves obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in most children. A 2015 Cochrane review found moderate quality evidence for benefits in<unk> rms of quality of life and symptoms but no benefit in attention or academic performance. It recommended that physicians and parents should weigh the benefits and risks of surgery as OSA symptoms may spontaneously resolve over time. An AHRQ review however did find improvements at school. The procedure is recommended for those who have OSA that has been verified by a sleep study. Studies have shown that treatment success of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty with<unk>  increases with tonsil size. Other There is no good evidence for other uses such as tonsil stones, bad breath, trouble swallowing, and an abnormal voice in children.
Tonsillectomy
Chondrolaryngoplasty
Stapedectomy
Endoscopic nasopharyngectomy
Rhinoplasty
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty
Laryngectomy
Ethmoidectomy