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Palate Surgery Complications

There are three main reasons for performing palate surgery. Palate surgery is commonly performed to correct sleep apnea, a condition where you stop breathing several times during one sleep cycle. Cleft-palate surgery is performed to correct birth defects, and tonsillectomy, also called palate surgery, is done to remove chronically infected or enlarged tonsils. The surgery involves removing tissue that obstructs the airways, resizing airways, reconstructing facial formation and removal of tonsils. Some of the more common complications include bleeding, infection, regurgitation, ineffectual results and pain.

  1. Bleeding

    • According to the Sleep Surgery Division of the University of California San Francisco, about 2 to 4 percent of palate surgery or tonsillectomy patients have bleeding following their operation. The risk of bleeding is higher for patients who have a combination of both surgeries. Half of patients who bleed following surgery are returned to the operating room to control bleeding.

    Infection

    • Though not very common, some patients develop an infection following palate surgery or tonsillectomy. To reduce the possibility of developing an infection and swelling, your surgeon may prescribe an antibiotic prior to your procedure. You can further prevent post-operative infections by refraining from gargling with mouthwash---especially those that contain alcohol, which is a known irritant and can slow healing.

    Regurgitation

    • It's not uncommon for patients to regurgitate liquids and food for a day or two following palate surgery. Because palate surgery involves reconstruction to airways and the nasal passages, some swelling will occur following your operation, partially obstructing the back of your mouth. This condition is rarely permanent and should not cause further complications.

    Unsuccessful Surgery

    • More likely with surgery to correct sleep apnea and a deformed palate, some patients do not see an improvement in their sleep apnea following palate surgery or have more difficulty breathing after cleft-palate reconstruction. Even though the purpose of this surgery is to open airways, in some cases nasal passages can inadvertently become more restricted. Salvage surgery to correct this complication is determined on a case-by-case basis since it can cause scar tissue to worsen and interfere with the success of surgery.

    Pain

    • One of the most common post-operative symptoms of palate surgery is pain. Though some moderate pain is to be expected, it should last no longer than two or three weeks and should not be so severe that you cannot eat or drink. Initial pain will be sharp or stinging and will intensify with swallowing. After a few days the pain should subside and feel like a dull ache. You may also have pain in your ears since the nerves between the throat and ears are shared. If pain medication like Tylenol, or a narcotic painkiller prescribed by your doctor, does not minimize your pain, report symptoms to your surgeon.

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