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 Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
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How to take care of vocal cord polyps in daily life?

Vocal cord polyps are primarily caused by improper voice use, shouting loudly, and excessive fatigue, leading to vocal cord lesions. They cause persistent hoarseness in patients and progressively worsen. Vocal cord polyps generally occur on one side. If a patient experiences persistent hoarseness, they should first visit a hospital for an examination using a laryngoscope. In the anterior-middle third of one vocal cord, a pale white or pale red, smooth-surfaced abnormal neoplasm will be found. This causes incomplete closure of the vocal cords and results in hoarseness. For treatment, vocal cord polyps require the removal through endoscopic support with a laryngoscope. Surgery requires hospitalization, and complete vocal rest for a week post-surgery, along with speaking softly and eating a bland diet, can gradually improve the condition and prevent recurrent episodes.

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Written by Li Mao Cai
Otolaryngology
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Is it necessary to have surgery for vocal cord polyps?

After diagnosing vocal cord polyps, it is necessary to decide whether surgery is needed based on the size of the polyps and the effectiveness of conservative treatment. If the polyps appear large under laryngoscopy and have a broad base, and conservative treatment is judged to be ineffective, it is recommended to opt for surgical treatment as soon as possible. If the polyps are small, and the doctor assesses that there is a possibility of recovery through conservative treatment and voice rest, then conservative treatment can be initially adopted for a period of time. If after conservative treatment the vocal cord polyps have not completely disappeared, or even worsened, it is also advisable to pursue aggressive surgical treatment. Therefore, whether surgery is necessary for vocal cord polyps needs to be determined by the doctor based on the results of laryngoscopy and conservative treatment.

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Written by Li Mao Cai
Otolaryngology
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The difference between vocal cord polyps and vocal cord nodules

Vocal cord polyps and vocal cord nodules are diseases caused by incorrect pronunciation or overuse of the voice, with the main clinical manifestation being hoarseness. The difference between vocal cord polyps and vocal cord nodules lies in their appearance under a laryngoscope: Vocal cord polyps often occur on one vocal cord, typically in the anterior one-third where a translucent, smooth swelling is found. This swelling can either have a broad stalk or a smaller stalk, and often, a hole can be observed with respiration. Vocal cord nodules are smaller and usually located symmetrically on the anterior one-third of both vocal cords. This implies that while polyps are commonly found on one vocal cord, nodules occur symmetrically on the anterior one-third of both vocal cords. From a general perspective, vocal cord polyps are wider and larger, whereas vocal cord nodules are only nodular lesions.

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Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
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Is the recurrence rate of vocal cord polyps high?

Vocal cord polyps are a common and frequently occurring condition in otolaryngology. Usually, if patients strictly protect their voice after undergoing vocal cord polyp surgery, the recurrence rate is generally low. However, patients in professions such as teaching, sales, and singing, who often strain their voices, may experience recurrence of vocal cord polyps. The formation of vocal cord polyps is due to the rupture of capillaries and edema in the vocal cord mucosa, leading to neoplasm proliferation. An electronic laryngoscopy can be used to clearly diagnose the disease. Patients with vocal cord polyps should be advised to strictly rest their voice and avoid excessive vocal strain. Surgical removal of the vocal cord polyps is necessary to cure the condition.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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How long after vocal cord polyp surgery can one eat normally?

Vocal cord polyps are mucous-like formations on the vocal cords. Clinically, vocal cord polyps are primarily removed through surgery. These polyps are benign lesions located in the vocal fold area, not in the digestive tract or the pharynx, therefore, they do not affect eating or swallowing. After surgery for vocal cord polyps, a patient can normally eat four to six hours after waking from general anesthesia. However, care must be taken not to cough violently while eating, and spicy or irritating foods should be consumed less or avoided altogether. This does not mean that one cannot eat normally after surgery for vocal cord polyps.