Laryngectomy in Iran with Dr. Saeedi

Some people experience medical problems with their larynx. Such problems might eventually lead to have the larynx partially or completely removed. In order for the patient not to lose their voice, he/she should seek alternatives that help produce speech. Laryngectomy surgery requires an ENT specialist and medical equipment of high quality. However, both the specialist and medical equipment cost the patient a fortune.

Lucky for you, Iran offers larynx removal surgeries that are operated by the best-specialized Iranian surgeons, such as Dr. Saeedi the renowned ENT surgeon in Tehran, and with low costs that are reasonable and affordable for everyone. Please keep reading to know more about laryngectomy in Iran with Dr. Saeedi.

What is laryngectomy surgery?

Laryngectomy is a surgical operation to remove the larynx that is also called the voice box. The larynx is the part of the throat that includes the vocal cords. It is responsible for speech-making, ingestion, and inhaling. It also links up the oral and nasal cavity with the lungs. When a person undergoes a larynx removal surgery, he/ she must search for alternatives for producing sounds.

What are the reasons behind laryngectomy?

There are several cases in which a person has to undergo a laryngectomy, such as:

laryngeal cancer,
Serious neck damage,
Treatment after a trauma,
Larynx damage due to radiation treatment.

What are the benefits of having laryngectomy in Iran with Dr. Saeedi?

Iran is famous for its history of medical surgeries, especially in the ENT specialty. There are large numbers of specialized surgeons who utilize the latest medical technology. ENT surgeons in Iran are well practiced and experienced. They perform all sorts of ENT surgeries in high performance and with low costs.

Dr. Masoumeh Saeedi is one of the ENT surgeons known for her high experience and deep scientific knowledge. Dr. Saeedi obtained the specialized board for over 12 years and has undergone specialized courses in many countries including Germany, France, Portugal, Malaysia and South Korea. She has performed more than 5,000 complicated surgeries, including laryngectomy.

With her scientific distinction, Dr. Saeedi was able to become, at the age of only 33, an associate professor of otolaryngology at Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences in Tehran.

You can now contact us to get a free online consultation on the laryngectomy in Iran with Dr. Saeedi.

What makes a good candidate for laryngectomy?

There are some cases where the person has signs that indicate laryngectomy:

Peculiar breathing sounds,
Recurring coughs (with or without blood),
Disturbing dysphagia,
A pain in the ear and neck,
A lump on the throat,
Swallowing difficulties.

Laryngectomy types

There are two types of laryngectomy:

Partial laryngectomy: A surgical operation to remove the part of the larynx that has the tumor.
Total laryngectomy: A surgical operation to eradicate the larynx completely along with the surrounding tissues.

A laryngectomy is usually accompanied by a plastic surgery or a reconstructive surgery to reconstruct the lost tissues.

Preparing for laryngectomy

The patient should do several things before undergoing a larynx removal surgery:

The patient should learn all the obtainable options for his/her condition along with their outcomes and risks.
The patient should come to the hospital with a companion (a relative or a friend).
The patient should be physically examined.
The patient should inform the doctor if you have any chronic diseases.
The patient should inform the doctor about any kind of medication he/she is on.
The patient should have imaging test like MRI and CT scan.
Laryngoscopy: Examination of the larynx.
It is better not to eat or drink the night before the operation.
The patient should avoid alcohol and tobacco before the surgery.

How is laryngectomy done?

The operation is a lengthy one and it is performed under general anesthesia. The surgeon makes a surgical incision in the neck from which the larynx is eradicated. Laryngectomy procedure is performed with neck dissection, which is a surgical operation to remove the surrounding tissues and lymph nodes.

After that, the surgeon makes a hole in the neck to reach the trachea (windpipe). In this sense, the trachea is separated from the esophagus (food-pipe) and permanently connected with the hole which is called a stoma. A tube is placed in the stoma to keep it permanently open for respiration. The procedure of hole opening in the neck is called tracheostomy. Laryngectomy is often accompanied by tracheostomy surgery.

Laser laryngectomy

Laser surgery is a bloodless operation that is performed to cut abnormal tissues, destroy malignant cells, and ease the symptoms that are caused by the tumor. It is done by an endoscope that enters through the mouth to the throat. After that, laser heats and evaporates abnormal cells.

Hospital care after laryngectomy

You need to stay in the hospital for about 10 days after a laryngectomy. The post-operative care after laryngectomy surgery includes:

In the hospital, you will need in-patient level care.
Since you lost the ability to speak, there will be a bell you can use to call the nurse and a pen to write down whatever you want to say.
The surgeon and anesthesiologist will follow up your progression.
You will not be able to pass any food or liquid through you mouth for a week to give the throat a time for healing.
There will be a tube in your neck for breathing, a tube in your stomach for feeding, and a tube into your bladder for urine drainage.
There will be a drain in your neck to drain off excessive fluids.
You will be given painkillers by the doctors via intravenous infusion.
The tubes and drains will be removed after a few days, which makes it easier for you to move.
After 7 days you could eat or drink according to the specified amounts by the doctor.
As soon as the doctor sees that there is no need for you to stay in the hospital, you will be discharged.

Home care after laryngectomy

After you are discharged from the hospital, you need a special care and you should follow some instructions at home, including:

You need to rest and have enough sleep for a better and faster healing.
Speak slowly and quietly.
Take the prescribed painkillers to ease you pain.
Keep your head up while sleeping.
Daily walking could revitalize your blood cycle and prevent pneumonia and constipation.
Keep water away from the stoma or water will enter into your lungs.
Ask the doctor to explain how to take care of the stoma.
Avoid heavy duties and practices.
Do not drive any vehicle until the doctor permits it.

Laryngectomy complications and benefits

Like any surgery, larynx removal surgery is accompanied by risks. However, risks and complications can be reduced if the procedure is performed by a highly experienced specialist.

Laryngectomy risks

Hematoma: which means blood leak out of the blood vessels.
Blood clots.
Hypocalcemia: calcium levels decrease permanently if the parathyroid glands are completely removed and temporarily if the parathyroid glands are put into a state of shock for some time after the operation.
Pharyngocutaneous fistula: an opening between the pharynx and the stoma.
Salivary fistula: salivary leakage from the pharynx into the neck.
Stoma narrowness.
Throat narrowness.
Inflammation.

Laryngectomy outcomes

Laryngectomy is usually resorted to when there is a serious life-threatening risk in it, so the main laryngectomy benefit is saving the patient’s life.

Since you no longer have a larynx after undergoing a larynx removal surgery, you should find alternatives for speech-making. In this respect, a speech pathologist helps the patient with vocal rehabilitation.

There are several speaking methods:

Esophageal speech: The air enters the esophageal where air blockage occurs for speech production. It is a non-surgical method.
Electrolarynx: It is an electronic device used to help total laryngectomy patients to produce clearer sounds.
Tracheoesophageal puncture: It is a surgical operation where a whole is placed between the esophagus (food pipe) and trachea (windpipe).

The cost of laryngectomy in Iran with Dr. Saeedi

Iranian ENT specialists perform laryngectomy surgeries with low costs compared to other countries. While laryngectomy costs in the United States of America vary between $10,900 and $120,300, the cost of laryngectomy in Iran with Dr. Saeedi, along with other travel costs, is only a small fraction of the cost in Western countries while offering comparable results and health care. Please contact us now to have a free specialized consultation and quote on laryngectomy in Iran with Dr. Saeedi.

Leaking laryngectomy valve

A leaking valve affects your speaking ability. A valve leaks during drinking and eating after laryngectomy. It also leaks if it is ill-suited. There are several reasons why valves leak such as:

Unfair cleaning of your stoma and valve,
Wrong valve size,
Displacement due to placing the laryngectomy tube in and out frequently,
Valve substitution.

Laryngectomy mucus problems

Mucus is the method used by the body to protect and moisturize the lungs and trachea. After laryngectomy, the trachea is connected to the stoma. When you sneeze, the mucus come out through the stoma. Therefore, when you are about to sneeze, you should quickly remove the cover of your stoma and put a handkerchief on the hole. Sometimes people don’t get the chance to remove the cover and then the mucus gets stuck in the stoma cover which requires a new cover since it is hard to clean it.

Laryngectomy microphone

It is also called an electrolarynx. It is a device used by laryngectomees (people who undergo a total laryngectomy) to help them produce speech. As it is pressed against the neck, the head of the electrolarynx vibrates. This vibration is modelled by the mouth and tongue to be converted after that into speech.

Laryngectomy nutrition

Before the operation, the laryngectomee should follow a light diet. After the operation, it is difficult to eat or drink through the mouth. Therefore, the surgeons insert a feeding tube into the abdomen. After 7 days of the operation, the nutritionist determines the amounts that you should eat and drink until you become able to eat and drink like a normal person.

What is reconstruction after laryngectomy?

The main goal behind laryngectomy reconstruction is to provide a permanent and stable airway for the patient to breathe through without using a laryngectomy tube. It could also help improve breathing and swallowing problems. The methods of laryngectomy reconstruction include:

Free flap reconstruction: in which tissues are transferred from one part of the body to substitute larynx parts.
Pectoralis flap reconstruction: in which muscles with or without skin are transferred from the chest to reconstruct some parts of the throat.

Laryngectomy vs. aphasia

Aphasia is a condition of language disorder that occurs due to a trauma, shock, stroke, or head injury. It damages the speech area in the brain which causes speech loss. In order to treat aphasia, one should resort to a speech therapist.

Laryngectomy, on the other hand, is a resection of the larynx or the voice box that is responsible for producing speech. There are alternatives to help the laryngectomee produce comprehensible speech.

Frequently asked questions about laryngectomy

Can laryngectomy patient eat?

Laryngectomy patients can eat after 7 days of the operation when the throat is healed.

Can a laryngectomy be reversed?

No, it cannot be reversed. However, there are new ways and alternatives that help laryngectomy patients regain their vocalization.

Can a laryngectomy patient aspirate?

After total laryngectomy, the trachea is no longer connected to the mouth and it is rather connected to a stoma in the neck. Therefore, it is impossible for a total laryngectomy patient to aspirate. In the case of partial laryngectomy, there might be a chance of aspiration.

How long does laryngectomy surgery take?

Laryngectomy surgery takes about 5 – 12 hours. The length of time depends on the type of laryngectomy surgery (total or partial).

Is laryngectomy safe?

Like any surgery, laryngectomy surgery is accompanied by several complication that could lengthen the period of hospital stay and cost more money. However, there is nothing serious or deadly, and all complications are perfectly handled by a specialized surgeon.

When is laryngectomy performed?

Laryngectomy surgery is performed when non-surgical treatments fail to preserve the larynx and when larynx tumors develop cancer, which affects the function of the larynx and threatens the patient’s life.

What are the outcomes of laryngectomy?

The patient of laryngectomy loses his voice box which requires new ways for speech making.
The trachea is separated from the esophagus and connected to a hole in the neck called the stoma.