Overview about Laryngoscopy
Laryngoscopy is a visual examination that facilitates doctors to have a clear close-up view of your larynx and throat. The larynx or voice box is the organ that produces voice and located in throat at the top of trachea i.e. wind-pipe. Larynx contains two bands of tissues known as vocal cords or vocal folds.
When we breathe air passes through larynx and over vocal cords that makes them to vibrate and produce sound. The sound produced goes up the throat and comes out from the mouth as our voice.
The larynx also plays a protective role for lungs by preventing entry of foreign matter into the lower airway i.e. lungs, bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli. Laryngoscopy is performed by ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT) or Otolaryngologists.
The three kinds of laryngoscopy are:
- Indirect laryngoscopy
- Direct laryngoscopy
- Direct Fiber-optic (flexible) laryngoscopy
In which conditions Laryngoscopy is used?
Laryngoscopy is performed to identify and understand the causes of voice and breathing problems. Laryngoscopy is mostly performed to diagnose and evaluate the reasons for:
- Persistent cough, throat pain, bleeding or bad breath
- Narrowing or blockage of the throat (strictures or stenosis)
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Persistent earache
- Remove foreign objects
- Check inflammation
- Persistent earache
- Take biopsy of mass or tumor in throat or vocal cords
Laryngoscopy also helps doctors to detect voice problems, such as weak voice, hoarse voice, breathy voice or absence of voice.
How does Laryngoscopy work?
The different types of laryngoscopy include:
Indirect laryngoscopy is the simplest form in which doctor wears a headgear with a bright light to aim at the back of the throat. The doctor inserts an instrument with small tilted mirror in the throat to examine the larynx, vocal cords and hypopharynx.
Indirect laryngoscopy is mainly used for collecting a sample of tissue for biopsy, remove polyps (growths) from vocal cords or give laser treatment. The doctor might spray local anesthetic agent into the throat to make it numb for carrying out laryngoscopy.
However, direct laryngoscopy is performed under anesthesia in a hospital. In this procedure, a special small flexible telescope is inserted through the nose or mouth and down the patient’s throat. With the help of the telescope, the doctor can have a clear and close view of the larynx and remove growths and foreign objects. Direct laryngoscopy allows doctors to have a better look at hard-to-reach areas of the larynx.
Direct laryngoscopy is also used for collecting tissue samples i.e. biopsies, provide laser treatments and for locating cancer of the larynx. For looking deep into the throat, doctors can use flexible or rigid telescope depending upon the case. Fiber-optic laryngoscopy is considered as flexible laryngoscopy.
In fiber-optic laryngoscopy, the doctor uses a small telescope fitted at the end of a cable that goes in nose and down into throat. This procedure requires some nasal anesthetic agent and may also require nasal decongestant to open up nasal airways.
How much does it cost in India?
The cost of laryngoscopy in India depends upon various factors such as:
• Status, Expertise and reputation of ENT specialist
• Type of hospital- government, Private or Charitable
• Condition of patient
• Surgical and diagnostic procedures
• Category of room taken
• Other medical or nursing facilities availed
Yet despite the best treatment facilities, highly qualified doctors, world-class hospitals and caring nursing staff, cost of laryngoscopy in India is extremely affordable. That is the reason, why patients from all across the globe like to get laryngoscopy and related treatments in India.
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