throat disorders

laryngitis

risk factors

complete loss of voice

unable to swallow properly

clinical manifestation

voice symptoms vary from slight huskiness or hoarseness to complete loss of voice

presents with sore throat that is stratchy, a cough ,and hoarseness

pathophysiology

infection and inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the larynx

inflammation may involve the vocal cords

it may be acute or chronic and can be caused by viruses or bacteria or sudden change in weather

the inflammation may result in oedema of the vocal cords

cough

stratchy throat

nursing management

to advice the patient to increase fluid intake to prevent the throat from being dry

tell the patient to avoid faulty voice habits

teach the patient about importance of taking cough medication

to advice the patient to use steam inhalations if ordered but doing so with extreme caution to prevent further throat irritation

diagnostic test/procedures

swab specimen

blood specimen

ct scan

mri

angiography

cancer of the lyranx

pathophysiology

squamous cell carcinoma is the most comon malignant tumour of the membrane lining the respiratory tract

the cancer spreads quickly the larynx because of abundant lymphatic vessels

mestases may often be palpated on the neck and may also occur in the lungs

clinical manifestations

hoarseness that last more than two weeks should be evaluated by n ear ,nose and throat specialist to exclude cancer of the larynx or other malignant tumours in the throat

the tumour invades muscles and cartilage surrounding the larynx ,causing fixation of the vocal cord

tumours on the glottis prevent glottis closure and cause a voice change

supraglotitic tumours may cause pain in the throat ,especially on swallowing ,aspiration during swallowing and a sensation of foreign body in the throat

manangement

radiation therapy is the treatment of choice ,as the prognosis is good if the tumour is diagnosed early before metastasis

chemotherapy is not the preferred form of treatment but it may be used preoperatively to reduce the size of the tumour

laser surgery may be used to reduce the size of the tumour

the patient is taught how to swallow to avoid aspiration

other operations include laryngectomy which include radical neck dissection

nursing management

the patient undergoing radiation therapy for laryngeal cancer should be taught about the procedure s that may be done

patient is to be taught to avoid extreme temperatures ,rough or tight garments

they often present with compromised nutritional state caused by dysphagia ,supplement nutrition may be provided through ngt

high protein diet is to be adviced to patient