I have been suffering from tonsillitis for about 7-8 years now. I came to the doctor (7 years ago) and he did a course of rinsing and laser resurfacing. After that, I forgot about it for 5-7 years.
After 7 years, I started to worry again, bad breath, I constantly swallow plugs because I can’t wash them out myself. I came to the same doctor, he did a course of rinsing and burned it with a laser again (I paid about 40,000 for everything). It's been 2 weeks since the surgery and I still feel traffic jams and an unpleasant odor. I was very upset, I went to the doctor, he says it’s strange, everything should be fine, he doesn’t see any traffic jams. This is all very sad, because I don’t know where to go, and I don’t know how to prove to the doctor that his treatment didn’t help me. And I feel sorry for the money...
Many people often underestimate acute tonsillitis. Most are sure - acute tonsillitis, a disease that is quite easy to treat and goes away without any particular complications. This feeling goes away exactly at the moment when a banal sore throat turns into a chronic disease. At this stage, tonsillitis causes many unpleasant symptoms and significantly reduces the quality of life. Conservative treatment methods in this situation usually no longer work. Previously, having suffered with such a patient for several years and unable to achieve positive dynamics, the attending physician decided on surgical intervention and removal of the tonsils. Fortunately, today such barbaric methods are used extremely rarely. It has long been known that tonsils are one of the most important elements of immunity and, if they are removed, the infection will stick to the person even more strongly than before. Therefore, today in the treatment of chronic tonsillitis such a modern method as cauterization of the tonsils is increasingly used.
Such methods are loudly called gentle surgery, and the worst thing that cauterization or lacunotomy can end up with is a small burn of the mucous membrane of the throat or palatine arches with a laser or liquid nitrogen.
Methods of cauterization of tonsils
Modern gentle surgery recognizes 2 methods of cauterization of the tonsils. Lakunotomy, can be laser or cryogenic, which is performed using liquid nitrogen. Let's talk in more detail about these methods and try to find out which one is preferable.
Cryotherapy
Treatment of chronic tonsillitis with liquid nitrogen, the method is not particularly new. It began to be used experimentally more than 10 years ago, and the technique immediately showed very good results.
The procedure is carried out on an outpatient basis - there is no need to go to the hospital. In addition, cryogenic lacunotomy has the following advantages:
The effectiveness of the method has long been scientifically proven and is about 90%. That is, if your chronic tonsillitis is treated with liquid nitrogen, it will certainly work. For a complete cure, only 2 procedures with a two-week break between them are enough. The procedure is performed very quickly - just a few minutes. Absolutely painless. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, and the patient is given a good pain reliever.
The manipulation is performed in a sitting position so that the doctor has a clear view of the oral cavity and does not accidentally burn the palatine arches. The patient's throat is treated with lidocaine to avoid the gag reflex. After which the doctor applies the instrument to each gland for 2-3 minutes and, in fact, the procedure is over. This procedure, according to experts, is more gentle than laser lacunotomy. It does not cause scarring or bleeding upon completion of the manipulation, and burns to the palatine arches are also unlikely. Already half an hour after the procedure, the patient can drink and eat - in fact, such cauterization of the tonsils in no way changes the patient’s quality of life. There may only be slight discomfort and a feeling of dryness in the throat, but they quickly pass.
Indications and principle of action of cryotherapy
Treatment with liquid nitrogen is extremely simple. Under the influence of deep freezing, the tissue of the tonsils, altered as a result of a chronic illness, dies and the process of self-cleaning and regeneration begins in the tonsils.
As a result of cryotherapy, complete restoration of tonsil function occurs in a short time in just a few weeks. The regeneration process is absolutely painless and most importantly, this procedure allows you to save your tonsils.
Similar treatment is possible in adults and children over 12 years of age. Children use a slightly different technology. From the age of three, specialists irrigate the pharynx with liquid nitrogen vapor. In just 4 procedures, you can achieve complete restoration of tonsil function.
Laser therapy
Laser lacunotomy is a slightly more difficult procedure than the liquid nitrogen treatment described above. The procedure involves using a laser to remove damaged or altered tissue from the surface of the tonsils.
During the procedure, slight discomfort is possible, however, there should be no pain or blood. Laser treatment is justified in cases where it is necessary to penetrate deep into the tonsil or perform a minor operation on it.
In fact, with a laser, you can easily remove the tonsils completely, however, as mentioned above, doctors try not to do this. Even after major laser surgery, tonsils usually remain.
Among the advantages of laser therapy for chronic sore throat, the following can be highlighted:
Bloodlessness of the operation. Bleeding occurs in extremely rare cases. Possibility of fairly accurate and detailed laser treatment of affected tonsils. Painless. The operation is performed under local anesthesia. Tonsils are frozen using a special aerosol or injection.
Laser therapy continues for about half an hour with short rest breaks for the patient. There is no need for hospitalization - the procedure is always performed on an outpatient basis. The only unpleasant consequences are minor signs of sore throat, which quickly disappear.
Laser lacunotomy
Laser operating principle
The tissues changed as a result of the disease simply evaporate under the influence of the laser, the purulent plugs are removed and all the cavities of the tonsils are cleaned. As a result, as a result of laser cauterization, in 100% of cases, chronic tonsillitis is completely cured, which is why the laser is considered more effective than liquid nitrogen.
Laser therapy is possible from the age of three. Moreover, there is no need to delay treatment. As soon as the doctor sends you for the procedure, feel free to go. Chronic sore throat is insidious in that it often causes many serious complications and you should not hesitate to treat it.
Cauterization procedure with liquid nitrogen
Cryodestruction of tonsils
Before carrying out cryodestruction of the tonsils, it is necessary to carry out sanitation of the oral cavity - treatment of carious teeth, stomatitis, in order to avoid pathogenic microbes entering the wound.
The patient is seated in a chair with his head thrown back, the surface of the tonsils is irrigated with an anesthetic solution, and after a few minutes careful exposure to nitrogen begins using a special nozzle connected to a cryo-device. It provides a narrow and directed jet
The exposure time for each tonsil is on average 2 minutes, depending on its size. As a rule, no pain, no gag reflex, or any other complications arise during the procedure.
Radical therapy
Very rarely, but there are still cases when chronic tonsillitis can no longer be cured either by laser or liquid nitrogen. In this case, doctors usually suggest complete removal of the tonsils. There is no point in refusing the procedure, it is now extremely unpopular and if the otolaryngologist started such a conversation, it means there is simply no other way out. Talk to your doctor again, find out why, in his opinion, radical therapy is necessary and, if the reasons seem significant to you, go for surgery.
However, even in this case, you should not go under a scalpel; it is better to remove the tonsils with a laser. It will be a little more expensive, but absolutely painless. You can carry out such an operation today both in a public and private clinic, the choice is only yours.
Laser radiation is a method of therapy that is prescribed to patients with ENT diseases. It is especially often used in the treatment of acute and chronic tonsillitis. The inflammatory process that affects the palatine tonsils is accompanied by frequent colds, purulent plaque, pain and discomfort in the throat. If treatment is not started in time, the pathological process becomes permanent. This reduces the body's defenses and requires long-term therapy. Treatment of tonsillitis with a laser effectively stops foci of inflammation in the tonsils and speeds up recovery.
Cryotherapy or freezing treatment
Cauterization of the palatine tonsils (tonsils) with liquid nitrogen is performed on an outpatient basis, without the need to go to the hospital. The effectiveness of this method of treating tonsillitis is over 90%. For complete cure, it is necessary to carry out 2-fold therapy with a break of two weeks.
Advantages of the cryotherapy method:
- Speed;
- Painless;
- High efficiency.
Cauterization (together with examination) takes only a few minutes and is carried out in the “sitting” position, under local anesthesia. The patient's throat is treated with a special spray to suppress the gag reflex. The doctor “applies” the cryo-instrument to the affected part of the tonsils for 1.5-2 minutes, freezing them with liquid nitrogen. After the procedure, no scars are formed (unlike laser treatment), and there is no bleeding. The patient can drink and eat within half an hour. Thus, the operation does not change the usual way of life. Minor discomfort may be caused by some numbness of the throat and dryness, which quickly disappear.
General points
Laser therapy for tonsillitis is based on cauterization of the affected tonsils or their removal. The latter method is advisable to use when conservative treatment methods have not yielded positive results. Bloodless surgery is performed once, and the patient does not experience pain or discomfort.
After the procedure, a sharp improvement in the patient’s well-being is observed. It manifests itself in a reduction in the incidence of acute respiratory infections and the consequences after them. The heavy odor, swelling of the tonsils and submandibular lymph nodes, as well as purulent plaque go away.
The laser beam directly affects the inflamed areas, due to which the swelling of the tonsils goes away, and all affected tissues remain treated.
It is advisable to begin laser treatment of chronic tonsillitis with organ-preserving therapy. The reason is that the role of the tonsils is invaluable. When they are absent, the human respiratory tract opens the door for various pathogenic microorganisms to enter. In addition, the risk of various allergic reactions affecting the entire bronchial tree increases.
Laser therapy for tonsillitis is performed twice a year.
In this case, the doctor should only use helium-neon radiation. A laser bow with a power of 100 mW is capable of providing powerful resistance to inflammation. It will affect the body for 4 minutes.
The wellness course must consist of at least 10 procedures.
In addition, this course must include at least 3 sessions. But they will be carried out from 2 to 4 days after tonsillectomy (surgical intervention during which the tonsils are removed). Doctors can use another method of laser irradiation using a special bow - lacunae. It should have an effect of at least 2 minutes on each affected organ separately. Each course includes 4-6 irradiations.
The choice of a specific type of laser is carried out taking into account the stage of the pathological process and the characteristics of the course of inflammation. The following types of devices are distinguished:
It is advisable to use a laser with fiber optics for therapeutic effects on large areas of inflammation. The holmium device is excellent for destroying damaged tissue, while it does not affect healthy tissue at all. To reduce the size of the tonsils, a carbon device is suitable. The infrared laser can cut and join tissue.
Indications for adenoidectomy
Tonsils and tonsils are removed only when really necessary. They are a natural barrier against bacterial and viral infections, and therefore you should not get rid of them without a good reason.
Laser removal of tonsils is indicated if the patient has the following pathological conditions:
- Frequent sore throat. They indicate chronic bacterial contamination of the oral cavity. And since microorganisms like to persist on the adenoids, the latter have to be cauterized.
- Recurrent colds. They are also a signal that there is an infection in the adenoid vegetations. Therefore, in such cases, laser vaporization is indicated.
- Pain in one or both ears. Most often, this symptom is diagnosed as “otitis media”. But its source is still the tonsils, which have to be cauterized.
- Frequent rhinitis, pharyngitis and laryngitis. These and other otorhinolaryngological pathologies are a signal that pathogens are developing in the nasopharynx or larynx. To remove them, special treatment of the adenoids is necessary.
- Different types of sinusitis: frontal sinusitis, ethmoiditis, sinusitis. These chronic inflammations of the sinuses are a direct indication for adenoidectomy. The tonsils also have to be removed in case of tonsillitis.
- Snoring and other sleep disorders. If physiotherapy does not help with such problems, you have to resort to radical treatment.
Conservative laser therapy
Before sending a patient to have tonsils removed, the doctor must conduct a course of laser therapy for tonsillitis. Thanks to this procedure, you can try to save the organ. In modern clinics, the Tonzillor device is most often used. The duration of treatment will be 10 sessions, each lasting 4-5 minutes.
Laser therapy has the following effects:
Clears gland lacunae from pus. Accelerates the healing process of affected tissue. Relief of the inflammatory process. Providing a bacterial and disinfecting effect.
In chronic cases of tonsillitis, it is necessary to undergo laser treatment twice a year to avoid complications. During the procedure, the patient is not given anesthesia, as he will not feel pain or discomfort. This allows treatment to be carried out for a person at any age.
Laser tonsil removal
With the help of laser therapy, you can get rid of lymphoid tissue without blood loss and perform ablation (removal of the tonsils). Thanks to partial cutting of the tonsils, the functions of the organ are preserved, while the affected tissue is removed. An infrared type of device is used for surgical intervention. Laser tonsil removal surgery has the following advantages:
Performed under local anesthesia. The duration of the manipulation will be no more than 25 minutes. The rehabilitation process does not exceed 3-4 days. There is no blood loss. Consequences occur extremely rarely. There is no open wound, and therefore the possibility of infection. During the rehabilitation period, the doctor does not prescribe antibiotics to the patient. Laser surgery is absolutely painless.
After laser therapy, small and medium lacunae disappear, and there are no scars. Large lacunae will be open, smoothed out and no purulent contents. Undamaged tonsil tissue will be stimulated by laser radiation. Breath becomes fresher.
