The tonsillectomy-adenoidectomy dilemma

Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (T&A) is the most commonly performed surgical procedure in the U.S. Considerable controversy surrounds this operation because all previous studies have demonstrated experimental flaws that compromise the value of the findings. While an apparent immunologic deficit following T&A has been demonstrated, the clinical significance of this finding is unknown. Normal humoral antibody responses are found after surgery and no increase in clinically apparent viral infection has been shown. T&A consistently normalizes pharyngeal microflora.