A laryngoscopy is primarily a condition that is used to examine the back of the throat in the cases of a patient suffering from significant difficulty in swallowing, breathing as well as some long standing cough and general uneasiness that might be linked to the throat. There are three types of laryngoscopy procedures that are used today - the indirect laryngoscopy procedure, the direct laryngoscopy and the fiberoptic laryngoscopy procedure.
In the indirect laryngoscopy procedure, the patient will be administered some local anesthesia in order to prevent any gag reflexes from getting in the way of the examination. The patient will be asked to sit straight up in a chair with the tongue sticking out of his or her mouth as much as possible. The doctor will then hold the tongue out with the help of some gauze while the anesthetic starts to take effect. The doctor will then direct the focus of the light emitted from the headlamp he or she is wearing, onto the back of the throat and get a closer look of the back with the help of a small hand mirror that will be pushed as far back as possible. The patient may also be asked to emit some low sounds while the doctor examines the form of the larynx. All in all, an indirect laryngoscopy shouldn't take more than about 10 minutes.
A direct laryngoscopy, also known as a direct rigid laryngoscopy, is performed in a surgery room, with the patient under complete sedation. The patient will be asked to lie on his or her back, with all jewelry removed and wearing only a hospital gown. Once the patient is fast asleep, a medical instrument known as a rigid laryngoscope is inserted down his or her throat to get a closer look at the back of the throat. The rigid laryngoscope may also be used in order to remove any objects that are the primary cause of the complications. This procedure should ideally not take any more than about 30 minutes, after which an ice pack may be placed on your throat to prevent swelling. You will need to wait until the effects of the anesthesia wear off, though, before you attempt to leave the hospital. It is important to inform the presiding doctor in the event that you are allergic to any medication as well as anesthetics or in the event that you are pregnant or suffer from heart conditions.