Direct Laryngoscopy: What To Expect

You may have heard the term “voice box” before. Your voice box, also called your larynx, sits above your trachea (windpipe) and behind your esophagus. It makes it possible for you to call out to your friends at Armentrout Preserve, talk on the phone and sing your favorite songs. Not only does your voice box help you make sounds, but it also lets air pass from your throat to your trachea and lungs.

Your ENT specialist may recommend a direct laryngoscopy to look at your voice box if you’re experiencing hoarseness or if they suspect you have laryngitis or laryngeal cancer. Let’s take a look at what you can expect from a direct laryngoscopy to help you prepare in the event that you need one.

Before Your Laryngoscopy

If you’re having a surgical laryngoscopy, our ENT specialist will likely talk to you about a few pre-surgery steps, which may include:

• Fasting the night before the procedure
• Avoiding certain medications leading up to the procedure
• Avoiding smoking for at least a week before the procedure
• Schedule a post-surgery right home

These steps may not apply if you are having an in-clinic laryngoscopy.

During Your Laryngoscopy

In-clinic and surgical laryngoscopies will differ slightly. Most in-clinic laryngoscopy will follow these steps:

• A small amount of numbing medicine and decongestant will be applied to your nose.
• During or before the procedure, you may feel an urge to cough, which will likely go away.
• Your ENT specialist may use a small, tilted mirror with a bright light to examine your voice box. In other cases, they will insert a flexible laryngoscope through your nose to look down your throat.
• Your specialist may have you speak during the procedure to test your vocal box.
• When they are finished looking at your voice box, your specialist will remove the mirror or laryngoscope.

A surgical laryngoscopy will follow similar steps, but use a special laryngoscope inserted through your mouth.

After Your Laryngoscopy

Following an in-clinic laryngoscopy, your nose and throat may feel numb. This will usually wear off within 20 minutes. Your ENT specialist will likely recommend you avoid eating or drinking while your mouth and throat are numb.

Following a surgical laryngoscopy, you will move to a recovery room until your anesthesia wears off so your provider can watch for possible complications. You may experience hoarseness or a sore throat following surgery. A sore throat is the most common complication from surgical laryngoscopies, with 14% to 57% of patients experiencing soreness.

If you are exhibiting hoarseness or other voice box or throat issues, contact today to make an appointment with one of our specialists.