The tonsils are two oval-shaped pads of tissue at the back of the throat, one on each side. Tonsillectomy is the surgical removal of the tonsils.
Tonsillectomy was previously a standard treatment for treating tonsil infection and irritation (tonsillitis). Nowadays, tonsillectomy is commonly used to treat sleep apnea. However, if tonsillitis recurs frequently and the patient is not responding to medications and other treatments, doctors prescribe tonsillectomy.