Curved Medical Fiber Optic Laryngoscope

About Curved Medical Fiber Optic Laryngoscope

There are several ways your doctor may do this procedure:

Indirect laryngoscopy.This is the simplest form. Your doctor uses a small mirror and a light to look into your throat. The mirror is on a long handle, like the kind a dentist often uses, and itïs placed against the roof of yourmouth.

The doctor shines a light into yourmouthto see the image in the mirror. It can be done in a doctorïs office in just 5 to 10 minutes.

Youïll sit in a chair while the exam is done. Your doctor might spray something into your throat to make it numb. Having something stuck in your throat might make you gag, however.

Direct fiber-optic laryngoscopy.Many doctors now do this kind, sometimes called flexible laryngoscopy. They usea small telescope at the end of a cable, which goes up your nose and down into your throat.

It takes less than 10 minutes. Youïll get a numbingmedicationfor your nose. Sometimes adecongestantis used to open your nasal passages as well. Gagging is a common reaction with this procedure as well.

Direct laryngoscopy.This is the most involved type. Your doctor uses a laryngoscope to push down yourtongueand lift up the epiglottis. Thatïs the flap of cartilage that covers your windpipe. It opens during breathing and closes during swallowing.

Your doctor can do this to remove small growths or samples of tissue for testing. They can also use this procedure to insert a tube into the windpipe to help someone breathe during an emergency or in surgery.

Direct laryngoscopy can take up to 45 minutes. Youïll be given whatïs called general anesthesia, so that you will not be awake during the procedure. Your doctor can take out any growths in your throat or take a sample of something that might need to be checked more closely.