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