Here is a list of common vocal fold microsurgery questions.

Why is vocal fold microsurgery done?

The commonest reason is that there is a visible lesion such as nodules, polyps, capillary ectasia (dilated capillaries), epidermoid or mucus retention cyst, glottic sulcus, papilloma, or a known vocal fold cancer. The point is to remove the lesion to improve the sound or capabilities of the voice. Of course, if a tumor is involved, voice takes second place to removal of the lesion. Removed tissue is always examined by the pathologist, but for most individuals, the need for biopsy is much less than the need for a better voice.

Can you describe how the procedure is accomplished?

The procedure, aka Microlaryngoscopy, is typically performed in an outpatient operating room during relatively brief general anesthesia. After you are completely asleep, a hollow, lighted “tube”—called a laryngoscope—is placed on the back of the tongue and against the sidewall of the throat, where it rests during the procedure. A microscope is brought into position, aligned with the laryngoscope, and the vocal folds are highly magnified and brightly illuminated.

Then, the surgeon uses tiny instruments and / or the carbon dioxide laser, to remove or ablate the problem. Both laser and non-laser tools / methodologies are available for every case, but which tools are used depend upon the nature of the problem. There is nothing innately superior about either method; it is the surgeon and not the tools that matter most. Nevertheless, one tends to use instruments for nodules, polyps, cysts, while the laser is more likely to be used for vascular abnormalities or removal of a vocal fold carcinoma.

Time required for the procedure is usually short—10 to 45 minutes of operating time.

What are the risks of the procedure?

Unless you have significant health issues, risks added together are very small indeed. The three main risks include:

  1. A truly remote possibility of drug reaction, heart problem, etc., during general anesthesia.
  2. A very small chance of dental trauma—e.g., chipped, scratched, broken, or dislodged tooth. We have a few instances per year of roughened enamel that doesn’t need a dentist’s attention, but only to be smoothed off in the O.R. Beyond this, about once every 3 years something more significant, such as a broken or dislodged crown or tooth happens.
  3. We cannot guarantee the precise degree of improvement—whether the result will be “good,” “very good,” or “spectacular.” That depends to large degree on the difficulty of the original problem. And when a known tumor is being removed, we may expect possible worsening of voice quality, as compared to “normal.”

The potential for harm to my teeth really bothers me.

Actually, though dental injury happens so infrequently, this possibility bothers us too! That’s why we use not only a tooth guard, but also all the care and gentleness we can muster while doing your surgery. That said, please keep in mind that you must NOT do this surgery if you cannot personally accept the very small chance of a dental problem. The only way for you to avoid this small risk, and its potential expense to you, is to not have the surgery.

I’m also terribly worried about my voice. What is the chance it will be worse after surgery?

Again, the very point of most microlaryngoscopy surgeries is to improve the voice. When we do this kind of surgery in singers—the most discriminating judges of the results of this kind of surgery—both singer/patient and surgeon, not to mention voice teachers, are routinely pleased with the result of surgery. Our expectations do vary a bit, however, with the kind of lesion we are removing. For example, we expect extremely good results within days with capillary ectasia, nodules, and polyps; good results after cyst or sulcus surgery, though with a much longer and more gradual recovery of voice over months’ time, and so forth. Your surgeon should be able to provide you with an estimate of what kind of voice result is realistic to expect after your surgery.

What if I forget and talk, or talk in my sleep?

No harm done, just don’t talk knowingly during the initial post-surgery days.

What other issues should I expect after surgery?

What if my teeth do feel loose?

We suggest that you refrain from wiggling them, or from biting into tough foods until they tighten back up on their own. Most often this takes a week or so.

What about voice use?

Specific advice may vary with the individual. That said, here are the usual voice use restrictions:

Nodules, polyps, capillary ectasia

  1. No talking for 4 days—usually this means from the day of surgery (Wednesday, for example) to Sunday. During those days, we usually suggest gentle sighing sounds for 10 seconds or so every few hours.
  2. Talking resumes on Sunday (5th day), but at a restricted amount—you may be a “3” on our 7-point talkativeness scale for one week. If a singer, you may begin vocalizing for 5 minutes twice a day, also beginning Sunday.
  3. Additional details of postoperative voice use will be explained at your first post-operative visit—typically, you are a “4” for a week; a “5” for a week, and so forth. Vocalizing increases by 5 minutes each practice session, week by week. For singers, we suggest a first (short) voice lesson in the second or third week after surgery.

Cyst, sulcus, papilloma, stenosis, early vocal fold cancer

No voice rest at all, other than one week of what we term “vocal prudence.” This means to talk when you need to, to get the business of life done, but limit “pleasure” talking, and certainly don’t join any street demonstrations!”

When do I see my doctor after surgery?

Typically, we will see you for the first postoperative visit at about a week after surgery (7th day). You will have been talking a couple of days by this time.

If flying home, you may depart the morning after the surgery. It is preferred to see you at some point in the future, but we understand that logistical and cost issues may mean that we never get to see you again! In that case, we do telemedicine follow-ups, and suggest follow-up visits with a laryngologist nearer your home—usually the one who sent you to us in the first place.

Suppose I develop a cough after surgery. Will that ruin my voice result?

No—so far the worst outcome I’ve seen in the few times this has occurred is that the person is hoarse a little longer after surgery—it takes somewhat longer for the very early “surgical laryngitis” to resolve. If you do experience a lot of coughing, over-the-counter Robitussin DM suffices for most people. If that is not effective, you can call Bastian Voice Institute for a stronger prescription.


Surgery for Fibrosis, Polyp

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Fibrosis + polyp (1 of 4)

An intense and dynamic teacher (not a singer) has developed not only polyp/ elevation, but fibrosis--the white submucosal deposition of scar-like tissue deposits. Narrow band illumination makes the nature of these lesions more "emphatic."

Strobe light (2 of 4)

Under strobe light during voicing. Poor match and stiffness are best seen.

Post microsurgery, open phase (3 of 4)

A week after vocal cord microsurgery, voice is markedly improved. No attempt was made to remove all of the fibrosis, but only to straighten the vocal cord margins. Open phase of vibration at F5.

Post microsurgery, open phase (4 of 4)

Closed phase of vibration at same pitch shows that some margin swelling remains. The patient also has MTD; posterior cords are widely separated.
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