Laryngeal Laser Surgery - An Unsedated, Office Procedure for Laryngeal Dysplasia

Pulsed angiolytic lasers (KTP, PDL) give us the ability to treat pre-cancerous growths of the vocal folds and larynx in a minimally invasive fashion.  Without sedation, and with the assistance of state-of-the art video laryngoscopes, we can remove small growths without any sedation.  Anesthesia is given topically, and the procedures are well tolerated by the majority of individuals.  Above are pre and post photos of a patient with recurrent right vocal cord dysplasia (pre-cancerous growth). 

Pulsed-KTP Laser Applications in Head and Neck Surgery

Angiolytic lasers target blood vessels, and preferentially treat vascular tissue while preserving surrounding less vascular tissue.  This characteristic allows treatment of a variety of ear, nose, and throat disorders with favorable results compared with non-selective lasers.  Examples of angiolytic lasers used in the head and neck include the KTP, Nd-Yag, and pulsed dye laser. 

Common applications include treatment of laryngeal papillomatosis (recurrent respiratory papillomatosis), inferior turbinate hypertrophy, vocal cord pre-cancer and cancer, vascular malformations, telangiectasias of the skin, nose, and vocal cords, and nosebleeds.

Functional Dysphonia

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/voice-massage-mother-voice-back-functional-dysphonia-vocal-chord-13616978?tab=9482930&section=1206853&playlist=1363340

This is a great story from ABC News about functional dysphonia.  Unfortunately, this disorder can go undiagnosed for weeks or months.  Amazingly it can be cured in as little as 10 minutes.  A variety of related problems can trigger functional dysphonia, including psychological stressors, respiratory infections, physical trauma, intubation for surgery, and acid reflux.   Treatment consists of speech therapy, and can also involve treatment of related disorders such as psychopathology, acid reflux, or respiratory infections.