Laryngoscopy

Laryngoscopy is an examination that lets your doctor look at the back of your throat, your voice box (larynx) and vocal cords with a scope (laryngoscope). There are two types of laryngoscopy, flexible and rigid, and each uses different equipment.

Flexible scopes allow the doctor to see the throat and voice box well in the office setting without the need for general anesthesia, but the doctor is not able to perform surgery with this type of scope. The doctor will use spray medication to numb the nose before the procedure. The entire procedure only lasts a few minutes.

Rigid scopes are often used in the operating room under general anesthesia when surgery of the vocal cord or biopsies are needed. Rigid laryngoscopy may be used as a surgical procedure to remove foreign objects in the throat, collect tissue samples (biopsy), remove polyps from the vocal cords, or perform laser or injection treatments. Direct rigid laryngoscopy may also be used to help find cancer of the voice box (larynx). This is usually done on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia.


Why It Is Done?

  Laryngoscopy helps us:

  • Find the cause of voice problems, such as a breathy voice, hoarse voice, weak voice, or no voice.
  • Find the cause of persistent throat and ear pain.
  • Find the cause for difficulty in swallowing, a feeling of a lump in the throat, or mucus with blood in it.
  • Check injuries to the throat, narrowing of the throat (strictures), or blockages in the airway.
  • Perform surgery on the voice box or vocal cords.

For more information see the post-op laryngoscopy page.

Common ENT Problems

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Surgeries We Perform

  • Adenoidectomy

    An adenoidectomy is a surgical procedure performed to remove the enlarged (hypertrophied) or chronically infected adenoids. Depending Read More
  • Laryngoscopy

    Laryngoscopy is an examination that lets your doctor look at the back of your throat, your voice Read More
  • Septoplasty

    The septum of the nose is a wall made of cartilage and bone that divides the two Read More
  • Tonsillectomy

    Removal of the tonsils (tonsillectomy) for tonsillitis or tonsillar hypertrophy (enlargement) is one of the most common Read More
  • Tympanostomy Tubes

    Tympanostomy tubes are known by many names including ventilation tubes, myringotomy tubes, ear tubes, and pressure equalization Read More
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Post-Operative Instructions

  • Adenoidectomy

    General Information: Adenoidectomy is the removal of the adenoid pad. The adenoids are tissue located behind the Read More
  • Facelifts

    Please follow these instructions carefully. Your final result will depend upon how well you care for the Read More
  • Rhinoplasty

    Week 1 (Beginning the day after surgery): You SHOULD: Keep the splint as dry as possible. Call Read More
  • Tympanoplasty

    Definition/Explanation: Tympanoplasty is a type of ear surgery. This surgery is designed to rebuild the eardrum and Read More
  • Blepharoplasty

    Please follow these instructions carefully. Your final result will depend upon how well you care for the Read More
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More Links

  • Hospital Affiliations
  • Otolaryngology / Head and Neck Surgery
  • Allergy & Sinus
  • Balance
  • Hearing Loss and Ear Disorders
  • Head and Neck Cancer
  • Pediatric Otolaryngology
  • Sleep Disorders
  • Thyroid