Etymed
adenoidectomy
Definition
surgical removal of the adenoids
Clinical context
A 7-year-old child presents with recurrent ear infections and mouth breathing. On examination, the physician notes enlarged adenoids on nasopharyngoscopy. The patient's history of frequent sinusitis and sleep-disordered breathing prompts the decision for adenoidectomy. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia with removal of the nasopharyngeal tissue. Postoperatively, the child experiences significant improvement in breathing and reduction in upper respiratory infections.
Mnemonic
Adenoids are like adenoids - they get removed when they're too big and cause problems