Surgery for the voice. Flashcards
Name the reasons for refferal.
Hoarseness for over 3 weeks
To exclude a malignancy (make sure it isn’t cancer)
To correct the dysphonia
What is dysphonia another word for?
Hoarseness of voice.
name the steps of assessment of condition.
- outpatient consultation and gather case history
2. larynx examined - flexible endoscopy through the nose or rigid endoscopy through mouth.
Why is an endoscopy through the nose preferred?
As through mouth endoscopy is not as comfortable for the patient ad often causes them to gag.
What allows you to look down the larynx?
A flexible Nasendoscopy.
Explain what electrolaryngography does.
Paired electrodes either side of the thyroid cartilage.
It records the changes in electrical conductance with vocal fold vibration.
This shows us how well the vocal folds are opening and closing.
Abnormal vocal folds can be ______ than normal.
Thicker (probs thinner too).
Describe theatre set up.
Operating table with microscope.
A ______ goes down into the mouth and shines a light down for visibility.
Laryngoscope.
When doing any surgery involving the mouth, what is it important to wear?
Teeth protection.
Why is suspension laryngoscopy good?
It is a hands free laryngoscope so it allows the surgeon to use both hands.
In surgery, what is used by the anaethesist to put the patient to sleep?
A Micro-laryngoscopy tube is used to put the patient to sleep but still allow surgeons to perform surgery on the larynx.
What debulks a tumour in the larynx?
The Mallinckrodt Laser Tube.
What does the mallinckrodt laser tube do?
It lasers the tumour which debulks it, this allows a better airway (but it won’t necessarily remove the whole tumour).
Because the mallinckrodt laser doesn’t remove the whole tumour, what is sometimes used after this?
Radiotherapy.
What is an endoscope?
Camera on the end of a stick that goes down the vocal tract. It is hooked up to the computer so the surgeon and nurses etc. can look on screen instead of down the whole.
The Hunsaker tube allows ______ during microlaryngoscopy.
Ventilation.
In surgery what can be used to look at the larynx?
A Laryngeal telescope.
Why are micro-laryngeal instruments really small?
Because the larynx is really small.
Name 2 examples of micro- laryngeal instruments.
micro-laryngeal scissors and crocs.
What are the aims of surgery?
To improve voice.
To diagnose/exclude malignancy
To treat malignancy
What are vocal fold polyps?
Fluid -filled lesions located on the vocal cord.
Where do polyps normally occur?
The mid portion of the vocal folds.
What causes vocal cord polyps?
It can be caused by a single traumatic event e.g. shouting
Normally caused by vocal misuse or abuse
Long term smoking may be a cause- but non-smokers get it too.
How are vocal polyps treated?
Microlaryngoscopy with excision- special fine instruments are used to remove the polyp.
What is Reinke’s Oedema?
Reinke’s edema is the swelling of the vocal cords due to fluid collected within the Reinke’s space. (between mucosa and vocal ligament).
Reinke’s Oedema is commoner in _____.
Women.
What can cause Reinke’s Oedema?
Smoking
Hypothyroidism.
How is Reinke’s Oedema treated?
Microlaryngoscopy with excision of excess mucosa and apiration of fluid.
What does the fluid cause?
The vocal folds to swell.