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Suggest Treatment For Large Epiglottis
My father has had severe breathing problems for several years. Pulmonologists could not find anything wrong with his lungs. Last month, he saw a ENT who said that his epiglottis is too large and is not functioning properly, which is the cause of his breathing problems. He said that laser surgery can be done to trim the epiglottis but it's very difficult to know how much to trim - and if too much is taken off, he will end up on tube feedings the rest of his life. Who is the best doc in the US to treat this problem?
Fri, 11 May 2018
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service.
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Large epiglottis cannot cause breathing problems. Please consult an ENT SURGEON who will do a flexible fibreoptic laryngoscopy and preferably drug-induced sleep endoscopy and will tell us what level your father is having breathing problems. Do your father have breathing problems during sleep. Either your father is having sleep apnoea or your father have chest problems. Chest problems can be easily detected but x-ray or CT scan. Sleep apnoea can be detected by sleep endoscopy or MRI. According to the problems one can proceed for treatment.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Rajat Basak
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Large epiglottis cannot cause breathing problems. Please consult an ENT SURGEON who will do a flexible fibreoptic laryngoscopy and preferably drug-induced sleep endoscopy and will tell us what level your father is having breathing problems. Do your father have breathing problems during sleep. Either your father is having sleep apnoea or your father have chest problems. Chest problems can be easily detected but x-ray or CT scan. Sleep apnoea can be detected by sleep endoscopy or MRI. According to the problems one can proceed for treatment.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Rajat Basak
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