Can someone with difficulty breathing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath undergo vocal cord polyp surgery?

Written by Wang Chun Mei

Pulmonology

Updated on December 11, 2024

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Difficulty breathing and chest tightness are very common symptoms in clinical practice. Since there are many triggering factors that can cause these symptoms, it is generally not recommended for patients experiencing difficulty breathing and chest tightness to undergo vocal cord surgery. It is advisable for patients to identify the triggering factors causing these symptoms and effectively improve these symptoms before considering vocal cord surgery. This is important because anesthesia, which is necessary for vocal cord surgery, could be harmful if the patient has underlying cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, it is recommended that such patients find and eliminate the triggering factors, improve their current discomforting symptoms, and only consider vocal cord surgery after their symptoms have fully improved.

Other Voices

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Written by Deng Bang Yu

Otolaryngology

44sec

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What should I do about vocal cord polyps?

Vocal cord polyps are benign tumors located on the vocal cords, primarily caused by improper use of the voice or by inflammatory infections. When vocal cord polyps are suspected, it is essential to visit a hospital for an examination, primarily using a laryngoscope to assess the size of the polyps and check for any other vocal cord lesions. Once diagnosed, surgical intervention is often evaluated. Suitable cases are admitted to the hospital for surgery under a surgical microscope to remove the polyps. Generally, patients can be discharged three to five days after the surgery. The surgery involves microscopic techniques, so the trauma is minimal.

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Written by Zhang Jun

Otolaryngology

1min 4sec

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Do vocal cord polyps cause coughing?

Vocal cord polyps generally do not cause coughing in patients. Vocal cord polyps are vocal cord lesions caused by prolonged improper use of the voice, shouting loudly, excessive yelling, or irritation of the vocal cords by acid reflux. They primarily cause the patient's voice to be hoarse and progressively worsen. Vocal cord polyps generally occur on one side. When examined with an electronic laryngoscope, a smooth-surfaced, light red or pale white abnormal growth can be found on the anterior middle third of one vocal cord. The glottis moves well, but closure is incomplete, causing persistent hoarseness in the patient. In terms of treatment, conservative treatment for vocal cord polyps is ineffective, and patients need to undergo surgical treatment. The surgery can be performed with a support laryngoscope to remove the vocal cord polyp. Hospitalization is required for the surgery, and recovery with discharge is possible within about a week.

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Written by Yao Jun

Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

47sec

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Do you need to avoid certain foods if you have vocal cord polyps?

Vocal cord polyps are a common ENT disease, mainly caused by patients overusing their voice, or by long-term consumption of spicy, irritating foods, staying up late, smoking, alcohol, strong tea, coffee, etc. Therefore, patients with vocal cord polyps should avoid eating spicy and irritating foods, and also avoid staying up late, smoking, drinking alcohol, and consuming strong tea and coffee etc. It is best to eat some cooling foods that relieve summer heat, or take proprietary Chinese medicines that clear the throat and benefit the voice. Try to speak less, avoid staying up late, and avoid catching colds. Generally, if medication is ineffective, surgery may be considered. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Xu Qing Tian

Otolaryngology

44sec

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Do vocal cord polyps require surgery?

Vocal cord polyps are benign proliferative lesions that occur on the surface mucous membrane of both vocal cords, and are also a type of chronic laryngitis. The main clinical manifestation is a hoarse voice, and it is very rare for it to become malignant. Factors such as improper vocal use due to professional reasons, respiratory infections, and other irritative factors can lead to vocal cord polyps. At this point, vocal cord polyps require surgical treatment; by surgically removing the proliferative polypoid tissue, the patient's voice can be restored and persistent hoarseness can be avoided. Additionally, after surgery, voice rest is necessary to help the healing of the vocal cord mucosal epithelium.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu

Otolaryngology

45sec

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How long is the hospital stay for vocal cord polyp surgery?

Vocal cord polyps are benign occupying lesions on our vocal cords. Generally, the removal of vocal cord polyps is performed under a microscope-supported laryngoscope. The hospital stay for vocal cord polyp surgery is usually short, and the surgery can even be performed in a day clinic. Typically, the stay lasts about 1-3 days, although in different medical units, it can be extended to 3-5 days or even 5-7 days. In any case, it's typically within a week. Moreover, as the procedure for vocal cord polyps is relatively less harmful, the hospital stay is generally short. Post-surgery, it is important to speak less and avoid straining the vocal cords to prevent the recurrence of the polyps.