Direct Rigid Laryngoscopy: What to Expect at Home

Your Recovery

Direct rigid laryngoscopy (say "lair-en-GOS-kuh-pee") is a procedure that lets your doctor look at your throat and voice box (larynx). The doctor used a lighted tube with a camera on the end, called a scope, to look deep into your throat. The doctor may have used the procedure to take a tissue sample (biopsy), remove growths from the vocal cords, or do other kinds of surgery or laser treatment in the throat. Or the procedure may have been done to remove an object that was stuck in your throat.

After the procedure, you may have some nausea and may feel tired for 1 to 2 days. Your throat may feel sore or slightly swollen for 2 to 5 days. You may sound hoarse for 1 to 8 weeks, depending on what was done during the procedure.

Your doctor may ask you to speak as little as you can for 1 to 2 weeks after the procedure. If you speak, use your normal tone of voice and do not talk for very long. Whispering or shouting can strain your vocal cords as they are trying to heal. Try to avoid coughing or clearing your throat while your throat heals. These activities can also damage your vocal cords. If your vocal cords were affected during the procedure, rest your voice completely for 3 days.

If nodules or other lesions were removed from your vocal cords, you may have to follow total voice rest (no talking, whispering, or making any other voice sounds) for up to 2 weeks.

If the doctor took a sample of tissue for study, it's normal to spit up a small amount of blood after the procedure. Talk to your doctor about how much bleeding to expect and how long the bleeding may last.

If the doctor took a biopsy, the doctor or nurse will call you with the test results. It may take 2 to 5 days to get the results.

This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover. But each person recovers at a different pace. Follow the steps below to get better as quickly as possible.

How can you care for yourself at home?

Activity

• Rest when you feel tired. Getting enough sleep will help you recover.
• Avoid strenuous activities, such as bicycle riding, jogging, weight lifting, or aerobic exercise, for at least 1 week or until your doctor says it is okay.
• Ask your doctor when you can drive again.
• If your job requires you to use your voice, you may need to take 1 to 2 weeks off from work.

Diet

• You can eat your normal diet.
• If it is painful to swallow, start out with cold drinks, flavored ice pops, and ice cream. Next, try soft foods. Avoid hard or scratchy foods and other acidic foods that can sting the throat.

Medicines

• Your doctor will tell you if and when you can restart your medicines. The doctor will also give you instructions about taking any new medicines.
• If you stopped taking aspirin or some other blood thinner, your doctor will tell you when to start taking it again.
• Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
  • If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine
  • If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
  • Store your prescription pain medicines where no one else can get to them. When you are done using them, dispose of them quickly and safely. Your local pharmacy or hospital may have a drop-off site.
• If you think your pain medicine is making you sick to your stomach:
  • Take your medicine after meals (unless your doctor has told you not to).
  • Ask your doctor for a different pain medicine.
• If your doctor prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics.

Throat care

• Suck on throat lozenges or gargle with warm salt water to help your sore throat.
• For several weeks, or until your doctor says it is okay, try to avoid coughing or clearing your throat. If you feel like you need to clear your throat, try taking a few sips of water.

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and contact your doctor if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

When should you call for help?

Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:

• You passed out (lost consciousness).
• You have severe trouble breathing.
• You have sudden chest pain and shortness of breath.

Contact your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:

• You cough up a lot of blood or have bleeding that lasts for 24 hours.
• You have symptoms of a blood clot in your leg (called a deep vein thrombosis), such as:
  • Pain in the calf, back of the knee, thigh, or groin.
  • Redness and swelling in your leg or groin.
• You feel like you cannot swallow.
• You have pain that does not get better after you take pain medicine.
• You have a fever.

Watch closely for any changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:

• You do not get better as expected.