Emily

Four-year-old Emily, from Highland Park, Illinois, never seemed to rest. An avid ballerina and ice skater, Emily was active all day long but rarely slept at night. When Emily was old enough to sleep in her own bed, her parents noticed that she would get up during the night and wander around the house, complaining of not being able to sleep. When she finally did fall asleep, she would snore loudly – unusual for a young child.

"It was obvious that Emily was not sleeping well," said Emily's mother, Susie. "Each morning she was extremely tired and cranky, and her mood would not change throughout the day. She became really unpleasant to be around. We knew something was wrong."

Emily's family has a history of enlarged tonsils and adenoids that presented challenges to many of them over the years. Several members in her family experienced recurring infections and breathing difficulties, and her parents suspected that Emily might have similar problems.

"Her tonsils were huge," recalls Susie. "Emily's doctor felt that we had nothing to worry about, but we believed that they were abnormally large and that a specialist should check them out."

So, Susie and her husband took Emily to see an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist to determine if her enlarged tonsils and adenoids were the cause of her sleeplessness and lethargy. The physician diagnosed Emily with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Emily's parents learned that her tonsils and adenoids were so large, they were blocking her airway, making it impossible for her to breathe properly during the night. The specialist also told them that surgery was the only solution for this type of problem.

Emily's parents were scared to put her through the painful procedure that their older son had experienced several years prior. Their son was also afflicted with enlarged tonsils and adenoids and had them surgically removed, using a traditional tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy procedure.

"We were faced with a really difficult decision," recalls Susie. "Our son was in so much pain for weeks following his surgery and he barely ate or drank. He spent most of his time lying around the house and he seemed really lethargic. It would be tough to watch another one of our children go through that."

Fortunately, Emily's ENT informed her parents about a new technique for removing tonsils and adenoids called Powered Intracapsular Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy, or PITA™ technique. The ENT explained that most patients who have PITA surgery experience less post-operative pain, a faster recovery and have a quicker return to normal activities.

"When the specialist told us about PITA, we agreed to the procedure, primarily because the recovery time was shorter," said Susie.

Following surgery, Emily's family could see a difference in her almost immediately.

"The afternoon following her procedure, Emily was up and running around the hospital hallways," said Susie. "She was laughing and talking and seemed to have more energy. She was even able to eat and drink the same night, something we definitely didn't see following our son's surgery."

Today, Emily no longer snores or wakes up during the night. She has more energy and awakes well rested each morning. And more importantly, she has a much calmer and happier demeanor.

"I can't believe the difference PITA made in my daughter's recovery time and overall mood," said Susie. "After watching my son be so miserable for weeks following his surgery, the PITA procedure was a welcome change. I would recommend this procedure to any parent. And I do, every chance I get!"

Emily lives in Highland Park, Illinois with her brother and her parents.

Surgeon's comments:

For many years, otolaryngologists have been searching for a technique to ease the recovery following surgical removal of tonsils. Powered intracapsular tonsillectomy is the first method that, in my hands, consistently provides for an easier and faster recovery. With rare exceptions, it has become my procedure of choice when treating children with sleep disordered breathing due to tonsil and adenoid hypertrophy severe enough to warrant surgical intervention.
Mark E. Gerber, MD
The patient testimonial you have just read is from a real patient. This patient's story may or may not be representative of the total population of people sufferering from adenoid and tonsil disease as results vary from patient to patient. Most patients receive varying degrees of relief from their symptoms. Please see your health care provider to determine what medical course is right for you.

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