What is a Laryngovideostroboscopy?
A laryngovideostroboscopy is a diagnostic procedure that allows an ENT doctor to study the motion and function of your vocal cords. It involves the use of an endoscope, which is a tube-like instrument, attached to a strobe light and connected to a video monitor. The endoscope is inserted through the mouth or nose and down the throat to record movement of the vocal cords in the larynx while you talk.
How Laryngovideostroboscopy Works
Your vocal cords vibrate at a very high frequency to produce sounds and speech. The male vocal cords vibrate at 100-130 times a second and female vocal cords vibrate at 190-220 times a second during conversational speech. These vibrations cannot be observed by the naked eye. The strobe light technology used in laryngovideostroboscopy captures the movement of the vocal cords during different phases of the vibration cycle allowing the doctor to clearly view and assess vocal cord movement.
Indications for Laryngovideostroboscopy
A laryngovideostroboscopy may be ordered to evaluate:
- Hoarseness
- Decreased vocal range
- Vocal fatigue
- Loss of voice
- Breathlessness or throat pain while speaking
- Throat tightness
- Foreign-body sensation in the throat
- Persistent laryngitis
Preparation for Laryngovideostroboscopy
No specific preparation is required for undergoing a laryngovideostroboscopy. It is a painless procedure which may be done in the office setting under local anesthesia. Patients can return home on the same day as the procedure.
Laryngovideostroboscopy Procedure
The laryngovideostroboscopy involves the following steps:
- You will be asked to sit in the examination chair with your head and neck flexed.
- A topical anesthetic spray may be applied to the lining of your nose or mouth and the back of the throat.
- The endoscope is then gently passed through the nasal or oral cavity and then into the throat to view your vocal cords.
- You will then be asked to make certain sounds at various pitches.
- The images generated by the strobe light technology are used to create a video which is recorded and can be viewed repeatedly under magnification in slow motion.
Post-Procedure Care after Laryngovideostroboscopy
Following the laryngovideostroboscopy, you may be required to wait for 20 minutes for the effects of the local anesthesia or numbing agent to wear off before you can return to routine activities with no restrictions.
Risks and Complications of Laryngovideostroboscopy
Laryngovideostroboscopy is a generally well tolerated procedure with minimal risks that include:
- Slight throat pain or discomfort
- Difficulty breathing
- Adverse reaction to anesthesia
Benefits of Laryngovideostroboscopy
The benefits of laryngovideostroboscopy include:
- Provides high-quality images for detailed assessment of vocal cord biomechanics
- Ensures permanent video record of the procedure
- Increases sensitivity of laryngeal diagnosis
