Objectives/hypothesis: The aim of this study was to understand current protocols for voice rest implemented by laryngologists immediately after phonomicrosurgery for benign vocal fold lesions.
Study design: Cross-sectional survey.
Methods: A 24-item survey was sent via electronic mail to laryngologists across the country to gather data on their recommendations of type and dosage of voice rest, factors involved in this decision, and recommendations for other behavioral modifications.
Results: A majority of the laryngologists implement 7 days of complete voice rest for nodules, cysts, polyps, and Reinke's edema, 1 to 4 days for leukoplakia and papilloma, and over 8 days of relative voice rest for most lesions. A majority of the laryngologists also employ a combination of complete and relative voice rest.
Conclusions: The more common recommendation for complete voice rest is 7 days for nodules, cysts, polyps, and Reinke's edema, and 1 to 4 days for leukoplakia and papilloma. Relative voice rest when recommended is typically recommended for over 8 days. Voice rest recommendations were not affected by surgery type alone, but were determined by either lesion type alone or lesion type combined with surgery type.
Level of evidence: 4. Laryngoscope, 128:1170-1175, 2018.
Keywords: Voice rest; phonomicrosurgery; postoperative voice rest; voice conservation.
© 2017 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.