Lecture 9.2: Common Disorders of the Larynx Flashcards
Congenital Larynx Disorders: Laryngomalacia
- A congenital softening of the tissues of the larynx.
above the vocal cords - The laryngeal structure is malformed and floppy,
causing the tissues to fall over the airway opening
and partially block it - This is the most common cause of noisy breathing in
infancy aka congenital laryngeal stridor
What is Acute Epiglottitis?
Inflammation of the Epiglottis
What commonly causes Acute Epiglottitis?
Haemophilus influenza
How does Acute Epiglottitis present? (6)
- VERY ILL
- Stridor
- Pain on Swallowing
- Fever
- Drooling
- Respiratory Distress
How to Treat Acute Epiglottitis? (3)
- Antibiotics
- Airway Maintenance
- Fluids
What is Stridor?
Noisy breathing that occurs due to obstructed air flow through a narrowed airway
What is Acute Laryngitis?
- Laryngial Inflammation
- Usually viral, associated with URTI
- Lasts 2-3 weeks
What is Chronic Laryngitis?
- Laryngeal Inflammation
- Lasts more than 3 weeks
What can cause Chronic Laryngitis? (5)
- Smoking
- Allergies
- Reflux
- Voice Abuse
- Candida
What are Singers’ or Screamers’ Nodules?
These callus-like growths develop in the midpoint of your vocal cords, if you’re repeatedly misusing or overusing your voice
Treatment of Singers’ or Screamers’ Nodules (2)
- Speech Therapy
- Vocal Cord Laser Surgery
What is Reinkes Oedema?
Fluid-filled swelling of one or both of the vocal cords often associated with smoking
Red Flags for Laryngeal Cancer (10)
- Hoarseness
- Pain
- Dysphagia
- Odynophagia
- Otalgia
- Neck Lump
- Sore Throat
- SOB
- Haemoptysis
- Weight loss
What is the most common type of cancer in the Larynx?
95% squamous cell carcinoma
Where can Neoplasia in the Larynx occur and how does this affect prognosis? (3)
- Supraglottis
- Glottis (good prognosis)
- Subglottis (poor prognosis)
