Video Stroboscopy?
What is Video Stroboscopy?
A video stroboscopy is a special method of examination of the fast vibrating vocal cords using a fibreoptic telescope. The vocal cords vibrate at the rate of about 140 per second in male and 250 times per second in female. For this reason it is impossible to assess the fine details of the vocal cord with the naked eye. The stroboscope incorporates a special fast flashing light, which synchronizes with the fast vibrating vocal cord mucosa with a slight time delay to provide an illusion of a slow motion of the vocal cords. This allows your ENT surgeon to examine the vocal cords in much finer details.
What does it involve?
You do not need to make any special preparation before the examination. You will be asked to sit comfortably and upright in the examination chair and breath normally during the examination. This examination is performed in the clinic by introducing the stroboscobe light using a small light tube either through your mouth (rigid stroboscope 10mm wide) or nose (flexible stroboscope 4 mm wide) and sometimes both. Mr Karagama may use a topical local anaesthetic spray to numb your nose and throat. This is advice especially if you have a strong gag reflex. The examination is usually completed in less than 10 minutes. You are advice not to eat or drink for 30 minutes if a local anaesthetics spray is used. This is to stop you coughing and aspirating because you will not feel the drink or food going into the windpipe whilst the anaesthesia is active. You can return to your normally activity immediately after the examination.
What's the Purpose ?
The purpose of this examination is to visualize the vocal cords function and to identify the cause of hoarseness.
Most disorders of the vocal cords can be diagnosed with great accuracy using the stroboscope. Examples of vocal cord disorders diagnosed by stroboscope are vocal cord nodules, cyst, polyp, scar, clot, reinke’s oedema, paralysis, reflux, trauma, cancer etc.
Most disorders of the vocal cords can be diagnosed with great accuracy using the stroboscope. Examples of vocal cord disorders diagnosed by stroboscope are vocal cord nodules, cyst, polyp, scar, clot, reinke’s oedema, paralysis, reflux, trauma, cancer etc.
Are there any risks?
There are no serious complications from this examination.
When do you get the results?
Mr Karagama will discuss the findings, diagnosis and treatment with you immediately at the end of the examination.