Dear Pat,
Without more information (eg whether the "tubing" in the throat went into
the stomach or into the lungs) it's really difficult to be specific.
However, if she underwent bronchoscopy to evaluate her bronchitis, please
know that the bronchoscope is quite slender and passed through the larynx
under direct visualization so the cords are scrupulously avoided. Other
possible procedures such as esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD; to evaluate the
esophagus and stomach) or transesophageal echocardiography (to evaluate the
heart and thoracid aorta), do not pass through the larynx at all and have no
chance to cause any injury to the vocal folds.
At this point, it sounds as if her vocal problems are the result of the
upper respiratory infection you describe and should resolve with fluids,
rest, tlc, and possibly antibiotics if felt indicated by her physician.
GWendel
At 11:36 AM 3/2/01 -0600, Patricia M Smith wrote:
>A singer friend of ours recently came home from the hospital &, while she
>was there, experienced some tests/treatments that required tubing to be
>put down her throat. During the course of her stay she also caught some
>sort of cold/sinus/bronchial type of infection. She's a soprano who
>currently is speaking in bass range because of the infection but also has
>not been able to sing since her tests/treatments. Is it possible that
>some damage was done to her vocal cords &, if so, can you suggest
>treatments, supplements or the such that might help heal them?
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