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Voice rest after vocal fold surgery: current practice and evidence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2013

A C Coombs ,
A J Carswell  and
P A Tierney
A C Coombs*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Southmead Hospital, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, UK
A J Carswell
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Southmead Hospital, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, UK
P A Tierney
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Southmead Hospital, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Dr A C Coombs, Bridge House, Gara Bridge, Totnes TQ9 7JT, UK Fax: 01548 821362 E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Objective:

Voice rest is commonly recommended after vocal fold surgery, but there is a lack of evidence base and no standard protocol. The aim of this study was to establish common practice regarding voice rest following vocal fold surgery.

Method:

An online survey was circulated via e-mail invitation to members of the ENT UK Expert Panel between October and November 2011.

Results:

The survey revealed that 86.5 per cent of respondents agreed that ‘complete voice rest’ means no sound production at all, but there was variability in how ‘relative voice rest’ was defined. There was no dominant type of voice rest routinely recommended after surgery for laryngeal papillomatosis or intermediate pathologies. There was considerable variability in the duration of voice rest recommended, with no statistically significant, most popular response (except for malignant lesions). Surgeons with less than 10 years of experience were more likely to recommend fewer days of voice rest.

Conclusion:

There is a lack of consistency in advice given to patients after vocal fold surgery, in terms of both type and length of voice rest. This may arise from an absence of robust evidence on which to base practice.

Keywords

LaryngoscopyVoicePostoperative Care
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 127 , Issue 8 , August 2013 , pp. 773 - 779
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2013 

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