Throat Surgery

1. Physical examination: The doctor will check your symptoms. Your medical history and physical health are also evaluated.
2. Endoscopy: A special lighted scope, known as an endoscope is used to have a close look at the throat and check for any abnormalities that may be present.
3. Laryngoscopy: A tube with a magnifying lens, known as a laryngoscope, is used by the doctor to examine the vocal cords.
4. Biopsy: If the doctor finds any abnormalities during an endoscopy or laryngoscopy, surgical instruments will be passed through the scope to collect a tissue sample and this sample is sent to the laboratory for testing.
5. Imaging tests: Tests like computerized tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and positron emission tomography (PET) scans, help the doctor in obtaining a clear image of the internal throat region.
6. Blood tests and urine tests: These are routine tests performed before any surgery to check for underlying medical conditions or infections.
7. Chest x-ray: The doctor can evaluate the general health of the heart and lungs using a chest x-ray.
8. Electrocardiogram (ECG): The electrical activity of the heart cm be monitored using this test.

Most throat surgeries are performed under the effect of general anesthesia, that is, the patient is put to sleep during the procedure. The different types of throat surgeries and their procedures are as follows:

1. Tonsillectomy: 
Tonsillectomy is the surgical removal of the tonsils, which are the soft pads of tissues situated at the back of the mouth.
The inflammation of the tonsils is known as tonsillitis. It could lead to sore throat, high fever, and muscle pain, and may need a tonsillectomy.
A tonsillectomy may be performed in the following different ways:
Cold knife dissection tonsillectomy: This procedure involves the removal of the tonsils using a scalpel.
Harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy: This method involves the use of ultrasonic vibrations and a special scalpel to remove the tonsils and also stop the bleeding at the same time.
Electrocautery or cauterization tonsillectomy: This method involves burning the tonsils away and cauterizing the area (applying heat to the area) to stop bleeding.
Laser tonsil ablation: This procedure involves the use of a laser beam to remove the tonsils.
Coblation tonsillectomy: This procedure involves the use of a coblation wand to dissolve the tonsil tissue using low radiofrequency energy and a saline solution.

2. Adenoidectomy:
This procedure involves the removal of the adenoids, which are the clusters of tissues situated at the back of the mouth, behind the nose.
The procedure is similar to tonsillectomy and involves the removal of the infected adenoids.
The removal of the infected adenoids may help in treating snoring, chronic nasal congestion, and chronic ear infections.

3. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP):
This type of surgery is performed to treat sleep apnea and snoring caused by a throat infection.
It involves the removal of the excess tissue present at the back of the mouth and throat.
Sometimes, the surgeon performs a tonsillectomy along with this procedure.

4. Uvulectomy:
This procedure is performed when the uvula (the fleshy piece of tissue that hangs in the back of the throat) gets swollen or infected, leading to breathing difficulties.
This procedure involves the removal of the infected uvula.

5. Laryngoscopy:
A long tube, known as a laryngoscope, is inserted down the throat via the nose or the mouth in this procedure.
This is done to examine the airways of the patient.
The laryngoscope tube used may be flexible or rigid.

6. Vocal cord surgery:
This surgery is performed to treat problems associated with the larynx, like cancerous growths, nodules, and vocal cord damage.
Some of the vocal cord surgeries that can be performed may include:
Vocal cord injections: They may be given to treat vocal cord paralysis and weakness.
Laryngeal framework surgery: It helps the cartilage of the vocal cords to work better.
Laser surgery: This type of surgery is performed to remove cancerous and non-cancerous growths.

7. Thyroid surgery:
Thyroid surgery can help in treating and removing thyroid growths and thyroid cancer.
The different types of thyroid surgeries include:
Hemi-thyroidectomy or thyroid lobectomy: This surgery is performed to remove one lobe of the thyroid gland.
Isthmusectomy: This type of surgery is performed to remove the connective tissue joining the two thyroid lobes.
Thyroidectomy: This surgery involves the complete removal of the thyroid gland.
The partial or complete removal of the thyroid gland may need the patient to take thyroid hormones for the rest of their lives.

8. Surgical removal of the cancerous growths and masses:
Several different types of surgeries may be performed to remove the cancerous growths and other masses from the larynx, throat, and mouth.
The type of surgery performed will depend on the location of cancer.
In some cases, the procedure may be performed using minimally-invasive techniques using lasers or an endoscope through smaller incisions.

The following complications may be associated with throat surgery:

• Ear infection
• Sinus infection
• Throat infection 
• Vocal changes
• Severe cough
• Body pain
• High fever
• Pain 
• Soreness 
• Swelling
• Bleeding
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Allergic reaction to anesthesia

The following are some of the common post-procedure steps following throat surgery:

• It is normal to have moderate to severe throat pain for one or two weeks after surgery.
• You may also experience some pain in the ears, neck, or jaw region. This pain usually lasts for a couple of days and disappears after that.
• The doctor may recommend pain-relieving medications to relieve your discomfort.
• It is normal to have some swelling in the tongue or throat region for a few days after surgery.
• Other symptoms that may commonly be seen after throat surgery include sore throat, mild fever, nausea, vomiting, bad breath, a feeling of something being stuck in the throat, and anxiety or sleep disturbances in children.
• Most patients return home within one or two days of throat surgery, however, it may take about one or two weeks before you can resume work.
• Follow-ups with the doctor are mandatory to evaluate your healing.

Home remedies:

The following tips help in boosting your recovery after throat surgery:

• Get plenty of rest.
• Drink lots of water to keep your throat moisturized and prevent swelling.
• Avoid eating hard food items after surgery, like nuts, maize, and fried food items, as they could scrape the surgical site and cause complications.
• Use warm salt water gargles.
• Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.
• Warm beverages like soup and tea can help in relieving your throat discomfort.
• Take proper care of the wounds.
• Take all the prescribed medications on time.
• Eat soft, healthy meals that are easy to swallow, like boiled vegetables, mashed potatoes, boiled eggs, ice cream, bananas, yogurt, avocados, pudding, and cottage cheese.
• Attend all your post-surgical follow-ups with the doctor.
• Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activities for up to three weeks after surgery.
• Avoid soaking or scrubbing the incision site for at least one week after surgery. Showering is usually allowed one day after surgery.
• Avoid traveling for at least two weeks after surgery.

Prevention:

The following lifestyle changes can reduce the chance of getting throat infections, which may require throat surgery:

• Wash your hands properly before and after eating, after using the washroom, and after going to public places.
• Use tissues, handkerchiefs, or your upper arm while coughing or sneezing.
• Avoid sharing your food with an infected person.
• Keep your surroundings clean and tidy to avoid infections
• Take adequate care of the sinuses and take proper treatment, if required.
• Manage your allergies well.
• Avoid smoking and sharing cigarettes.
• Keep the air moist using a humidifier.

Cost of throat surgery- 

The cost of throat surgery will vary depending on the type of surgery being performed.
On average,
The cost of throat surgery in Mumbai is between INR 50,000 to INR 1,00,000.
The cost of throat surgery in Delhi is between INR 45,000 to INR 95,000.
The cost of throat surgery in Mumbai is between INR 45,000 to INR 95,000.
The cost of throat surgery in Mumbai is between INR 40,000 to INR 90,000.