Laryngoscopy

How To Prepare

Indirect and direct flexible laryngoscopy

Your doctor will give you instructions about not eating or drinking before the examination to prevent vomiting. If you wear dentures, you will remove them just before the examination.

Direct rigid laryngoscopy

Before a rigid laryngoscopy, tell your doctor if you:

• Are allergic to any medicines, including anesthetics.
• Are taking any medicines.
• Have bleeding problems or take blood-thinning medicine, such as warfarin (Coumadin).
• Have heart problems.
• Are or might be pregnant.
• Have had surgery or radiation treatments to your mouth or throat.

Rigid laryngoscopy is done with a general anesthetic. Do not eat or drink for 8 hours before the procedure. If you have this test in your doctor's office or at a surgery center, arrange to have someone drive you home after the procedure.

You will also be asked to sign a consent form. Talk to your health professional about any concerns you have regarding the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will mean. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out the medical test information form(What is a PDF document?).

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: July 24, 2006
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Charles M. Myer, III, MD - Otolaryngology
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