What is a laryngectomy?
Laryngectomy is the surgical removal of the larynx. The larynx is the portion of your throat that houses your vocal cords, which allow you to produce sound. The larynx connects your nose and mouth to your lungs. It also protects your breathing system by keeping the things you eat or drink in your esophagus and out of your lungs.
If you have a laryngectomy, it will affect your speaking, swallowing, and breathing. You’ll need to learn new ways to perform all three tasks after surgery.
Why is laryngectomy done?
Removing the larynx is a serious yet necessary treatment for people who:
- have cancer of the larynx
- have sustained severe injury to the neck, such as a gunshot wound
- develop radiation necrosis (damage to the larynx stemming from radiation treatment)
Depending on your condition, your doctor will perform a partial or complete laryngectomy.
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