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What is adenoid removal (adenoidectomy) with ear tube insertion surgery?

Adenoid removal and ear tube insertion surgery are used to manage recurrent sinus, throat, and ear infections in children. To understand what the procedure entails and why it is done, we need to learn the basics of adenoid anatomy. 

  • The adenoids are a bundle of tissue deep within the nasal passages that helps the body recognize and fight allergens, viruses, and bacteria inhaled through the nose.
  • The adenoids can swell due to infection or severe allergies. This compresses the tissues in the nose and sinuses that surround them. 
  • The eustachian tubes are a connection between the middle ear and the nasal passages. Their role is to drain the space behind the eardrum and allow you to balance the pressure in your ears (the popping sensation you feel in the ears when you yawn).

When the adenoids swell, they can block these eustachian tubes. This blockage leads to fluid backing up behind the eardrum, which causes ear infections. This is where ear tubes (myringotomy tubes) come in. These tubes are placed to drain the space behind the eardrum while the swelling from the adenoid removal decreases. Ear tube placement may or may not be done based on the patient and how many ear infections they have had in the past.

Even if the eustachian tubes are not blocked by adenoid swelling, the large amount of tissue that makes up these structures can serve as a hiding space for bacteria. This can lead to repeated sore throats, sinus infections, and other infections in some children. This is another reason the adenoids may be removed.

How long is surgery to remove adenoids with ear tube insertion?

Is removing adenoids a good idea?

How long does it take to recover from adenoid surgery?

Is there pain after adenoid and ear tube surgery?

What are the side effects of having your adenoids removed?

Do adenoids grow back after surgery?

* Savings estimate based on a study of more than 1 billion claims comparing self-pay (or cash pay) prices of a frequency-weighted market basket of procedures to insurer-negotiated rates for the same. Claims were collected between July 2017 and July 2019. R.Lawrence Van Horn, Arthur Laffer, Robert L.Metcalf. 2019. The Transformative Potential for Price Transparency in Healthcare: Benefits for Consumers and Providers. Health Management Policy and Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 3.

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Your actual costs may be higher or lower than these cost estimates. Check with your provider and health plan details to confirm the costs that you may be charged for a service or procedure.You are responsible for costs that are not covered and for getting any pre-authorizations or referrals required by your health plan. Neither payments nor benefits are guaranteed. Provider data, including price data, provided in part by Turquoise Health.

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