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Vocal cord polyps
Postoperative Precautions for Vocal Cord Polyps
Vocal cord polyps are a common and frequent condition in otolaryngology, and the following precautions should be noted after surgery for vocal cord polyps: First, do not consume spicy, irritating food and cold drinks to avoid postoperative bleeding or poor recovery of the voice. Second, it is important to maintain silence, preferably for 2-4 weeks, to help the rapid recovery of the vocal cord mucous membrane. Third, in daily life, it is necessary to reduce vocal strain, avoid shouting, to prevent acute congestion and inflammation of the vocal cord mucous membrane, and prevent postoperative recurrence.
Why do vocal cord polyps bleed?
Vocal cord polyps are a cold-natured and space-occupying lesion located on the vocal cords, usually occurring unilaterally. Clinically, they primarily present as hoarseness. Examination can reveal a polyp-like neoplasm protruding from the surface of one vocal cord. There are two reasons for bleeding in vocal cord polyps. One is intense coughing or other mechanical injuries that cause bleeding on the surface of the polyp, due to damage to the vocal cord mucosa, among other factors. The second is that these polyps are hemorrhagic, possessing a rich supply of blood vessels, referred to as hemorrhagic polyps, which are prone to bleeding. Another scenario is post-surgical bleeding due to mucosal damage, friction, or other factors following surgery for vocal cord polyps, primarily involving these three factors.
What should you avoid eating if you have vocal cord polyps?
Patients with vocal cord polyps need a light diet and should avoid spicy and irritating foods. It is necessary for patients to adjust their digestive system function to avoid acid reflux. The cause of vocal cord polyps is generally due to long-term intake of spicy foods, digestive system disorders, gastric acid reflux, and long periods of loud talking, excessive fatigue, and overuse of the voice, which leads to congestion, edema, hyperplasia, and prolapse of the mucous membrane on the surface of the vocal cords. This condition can cause the patient to experience persistent hoarseness, which progressively worsens. During an examination with an electronic laryngoscope, a smooth, pale white or pale red abnormal neoplasm can be found at the anterior middle third of one vocal cord. It can lead to incomplete closure of the vocal cords, resulting in a hoarse voice. In terms of treatment, vocal cord polyps can be cured with a microlaryngoscopy under the support of a laryngoscope, where the polyp is surgically removed.
What medicine should I take for vocal cord polyps?
Some patients with vocal cord polyps can consider medication treatment, mainly aimed at smaller polyps with limited lesion scope and not particularly obvious clinical symptoms. In such cases, medication treatment can be considered, generally focusing on oral and nebulized medications. It is also necessary to avoid excessive voice use and to frequently revisit the laryngoscope to monitor the changes in the vocal cord polyps, typically revisiting every 1-3 months. If the polyps are larger and have caused obvious hoarseness or severely affected breathing, conservative medical treatment is likely to be ineffective, and it may be necessary to consider undergoing a microlaryngoscopic surgery to remove the vocal cord polyps. Regular follow-ups are still required after the surgery to observe the recovery. (Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor, based on the specific situation.)
What should I do about vocal cord polyps and nodules?
Vocal cord polyps and nodules are relatively common ENT diseases. After the onset, it is necessary to visit an ENT clinic for a laryngoscopy to assess the severity of the condition. If the condition is mild, conservative treatment with medications can be considered first, commonly including nebulization and oral traditional Chinese medicine, along with voice rehabilitation training. Many patients see gradual improvement after timely treatment. However, if the original condition is severe, the symptoms of hoarseness are pronounced, and conservative treatment does not yield satisfactory results, surgical removal may need to be considered, followed by monitoring for any recurrence.
How to conservatively treat vocal cord polyps?
Vocal cord polyps are a relatively common ENT disorder. In terms of treatment, there are generally two types: conservative treatment and surgical treatment. If the vocal cord polyps are small and the clinical symptoms are not particularly severe, conservative treatment is considered first. Common treatments include oral medication, which can be complemented with nebulization therapy. Most patients can gradually alleviate symptoms with medication. Additionally, voice training can be conducted to learn the correct and reasonable use of the voice. In daily life, it is necessary to avoid overuse of the voice as much as possible and to regularly re-examine the laryngoscopic observations to monitor any changes in the vocal cord polyps.
Do vocal cord polyps definitely require surgery?
The treatment of vocal cord polyps is primarily surgical since this condition is mainly caused by excessive talking, improper voice use, or overuse of the voice at one time. Such actions can lead to pathological changes in the vocal cord mucosa, resulting in edema and vascular dilation in the Reinke's space, and even hemorrhagic polyps. In these cases, simple voice rest or medical treatment is often ineffective. The best approach is to surgically remove the polyps completely, and then combine this with voice rehabilitation and correct pronunciation to achieve the best possible healing of the surgical site. Therefore, the most appropriate treatment plan for vocal cord polyps is to undergo surgery promptly. The specific surgical method depends on the size and location of the polyp, and whether it can be well exposed during surgery.
Can vocal cord polyps be treated in an outpatient clinic?
Some vocal cord polyps can be treated with outpatient surgery. This decision largely depends on the general health of the patient and the size of the polyps. If the polyps are not particularly large and the patient’s overall health is good, local anesthesia procedures in an outpatient setting might be considered. However, during the procedure, it is important for the patient to cooperate with the doctor to avoid serious complications. If the vocal cord polyps are larger or the patient's overall health is not very good, it is recommended to opt for inpatient treatment. With hospitalization, additional assessments can be made, followed by surgery under general anesthesia. In this scenario, the patient does not need to actively participate during the surgery, and the procedure is generally considered routine minor surgery.
How long do vocal cord polyps need voice rest?
Vocal cord polyps are a relatively common otolaryngological condition with various clinical symptoms, the most common being hoarseness. If the vocal cord polyps are significant, it is necessary to rest the voice, typically recommended for about one to two weeks. However, it is still essential to speak as little as possible in daily life because excessive use of the voice can potentially worsen the condition of the vocal cord polyps. If the polyps are large, and resting the voice alone does not yield good results, additional treatments such as oral medications and nebulizer therapy may be needed. Some patients may not respond well to conservative treatment and might require surgical removal. After surgery, regular follow-ups are necessary to monitor the outcomes.
What should be paid attention to with vocal cord polyps in daily life?
Vocal cord polyps require careful protection of the vocal cords, as the common causes of vocal cord polyps are often due to patients frequently speaking loudly, over-shouting, improper use of their voice, or long-term spicy and irritating diet, and acid reflux irritation, resulting in diffuse congestion, edema, and proliferation of the vocal cord mucosa, leading to vocal cord polyps. These can cause the patient to experience persistent hoarseness, which progressively worsens. Patients need to visit a hospital for an examination with an electronic laryngoscope, which can reveal an abnormal neoplasm at the anterior middle third of one vocal cord, appearing pale white or pale red, soft, and painless. Vocal cord polyps require local surgical removal for treatment and can be cured. After surgery, patients also need to completely rest their voice for a week, and combined with nebulized inhalation therapy, improvement can gradually occur, avoiding recurrent attacks.