Dr. Sabari Nath H.S , MS
The Laryngology Clinic at Sree Mookambika institute of Medical Sciences (SMIMS) is a specialized unit dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment, and comprehensive care of conditions affecting the larynx. Laryngology focuses on identifying and treating problems in the larynx, also called the voice box. Your larynx allow you to speak and produce sounds. It also serves as the entryway to your windpipe and plays a key role in your ability to breathe and swallow.For any larynx-related issues, you may need to visit a laryngologist, a doctor specialized in the care of the voice box. Laryngologists are trained to identify and manage disorders of the larynx that can affect voice, breathing, and swallowing.Dr. Sabari Nath H.S. is a Professor in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at Sree Mookambika Institute of Medical Sciences and heads the Laryngology Clinic at SMIMS. He has over a decade of experience in the evaluation and management of voice, airway, and swallowing disorders, with special expertise in Laryngology and Phonosurgery.His clinical interests include phonosurgeries for voice disorders, professional voice care, management of vocal cord paralysis, dysphagia surgeries, airway surgeries for upper airway obstruction, and advanced laryngeal procedures. He is trained in thyroplasty, injection laryngoplasty, reinnervation surgeries for voice and airway, and the management of spasmodic dysphonia.At SMIMS, he leads the Laryngology Clinic, providing specialized care for patients with voice disorders, swallowing difficulties, airway problems, and professional voice users, while also actively contributing to teaching, research, and training of medical students and residents.
You should consider seeing a laryngologist if you have
Persistent hoarseness:
- Hoarseness that lasts more than 2–4 weeks without a clear reason.
Breathing problems related to the throat:
- Difficulty breathing that feels like it comes from the voice box area.
Trouble swallowing (dysphagia):
- Pain or difficulty when swallowing food or liquids.
- This symptom is medically known as Dysphagia.
 Voice strain or overuse:
- Common in singers, teachers, or public speakers who may develop vocal cord problems.
Voice changes:
- Weak voice, loss of voice, strained Voice or sudden changes in voice quality.
Professional Voice Care:
- If you are a Professional Voice User like Singer/Teacher/ Preacher who are having any voice problems or strained voice/ unable to attain high pitch/low pitch during performance
Chronic cough:
- If you are having Cough for more that 6 weeks duration which is not resolving with other treatments
Voice Change/ Breathing difficulty after Thyroid/ Cardiac Surgeries:
- If you are having voice change/breathlessness after some surgeries
Prolonged Tracheostomy:
- If you are on Prolonged tracheostomy due to neurological/ Oncological Conditions or after some surgeries – for removing of the tracheostomy tube (if possible)
What Conditions Do Laryngologists Handle?
A laryngologist diagnoses and treats disorders affecting the larynx (voice box), vocal cords, and throat, which can impact breathing, swallowing, and voice quality. Some of the conditions we manage include:
• Laryngitis: Inflammation of the voice box that may cause hoarseness or voice loss. It can result from infections, smoking, acid reflux, or excessive voice use.
• Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR): This condition occurs when stomach acid travels up the oesophagus and irritates the throat and larynx.
• Dysphagia: Dysphagia refers to difficulty swallowing. It may occur when the larynx does not close properly during swallowing or when the throat muscles fail to move food effectively into the oesophagus. Neurological conditions such as stroke may contribute to this problem.
• Vocal Cord Hemorrhage: This happens when a blood vessel in the vocal cords ruptures, leading to bleeding into the surrounding tissue.
• Vocal Cord Lesions: Non-cancerous growths such as cysts, polyps, or nodules that develop on one or both vocal cords.
• Voice Disorders: A broad group of conditions affecting the vocal cords and larynx that lead to changes in voice quality.
• Spasmodic Dysphonia: A neurological voice disorder in which the muscles of the voice box involuntarily spasm during speech.
• Vocal Cord Paralysis: Occurs when one or both vocal cords cannot open or close properly, affecting speech and breathing.
• Tracheostomy Decannulation: The process of safely removing a tracheostomy tube once a patient can breathe independently.
• Voice Changes or Breathlessness After Thyroid or Cardiac Surgery: Some patients may experience voice changes or breathing difficulties following procedures such as Thyroidectomy or cardiac surgery due to possible nerve or vocal cord involvement.
• Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis: Also known as laryngeal papillomatosis, this is a long-term infection caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) that leads to wart-like growths in the larynx.
• Laryngeal Stenosis: This occurs when the airway around the larynx becomes narrowed, often due to scar tissue formation or reduced movement of the vocal cords.
• Laryngeal Cancer: This cancer develops in the voice box. Risk factors include smoking, alcohol use, and prolonged irritation of the throat.
• Voice Rehabilitation Post Total Laryngectomy: Voice rehabilitation after a Total Laryngectomy for Laryngeal Cancerhelps patients regain the ability to communicate through specialized techniques such as voice prosthesis, esophageal speech training, or an Electrolarynx.
Diagnostic Services
The Laryngology Clinic is equipped with modern diagnostic facilities to accurately evaluate disorders of the voice, airway tract, and swallowing function.
• Flexible Video Laryngoscopy: Minimally invasive procedures used to examine the larynx and vocal cords in detail.
• Video Stroboscopy: A specialized test that analyzes vocal cord vibrations and helps diagnose subtle voice disorders.
• Voice Assessment and Acoustic Analysis: Detailed evaluation of voice quality, pitch, loudness, and other vocal parameters.
• Swallowing Evaluation: Assessment of swallowing difficulties such as Dysphagia to identify the cause and guide treatment (Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing – FEES and Video Fluroscopic Study)
• Narrow band Imaging: Minimally invasive procedure to detect early glottic cancers in OPD itself.
• Imaging Studies: Advanced imaging investigations performed in collaboration with the Radiology department for comprehensive diagnosis.
Procedures We Handle
Our laryngology team offers advanced diagnostic and surgical care for disorders affecting the airway, voice, swallowing, and throat, using modern endoscopic, laser, and open surgical techniques.
Airway-Related Procedures:
- Treatment of complex airway disorders using minimally invasive and reconstructive techniques.
- Â Airway surgeries for obstruction or narrowing
- Coblation-assisted and endoscopic airway dilatation procedures
- Â Kashima Procedure for airway widening
- Â Commissuroplasty for reconstruction of the vocal cord commissure
Voice Disorders and Phonosurgery:
- Specialized surgical and non-surgical treatments to restore or improve voice quality.
- Â Surgery for vocal cord lesions and structural abnormalities
- Â Gender-affirming voice surgeries
- Â Injection Laryngoplasty and Thyroplasty
- Â Botulinum Toxin (Botox) therapy for voice disorders
- Â Endoscopic treatment for Spasmodic Dysphonia
- Laryngeal Reinnervation and denervation–reinnervation procedures
Swallowing Disorders:
Comprehensive care for swallowing difficulties and aspiration.
- Cricopharyngeal Myotomy / myectomy
- Surgery for Zenker’s Diverticulum
- Procedures to manage excessive drooling
Neck and Thyroid Surgery:
Diagnosis and surgical treatment of thyroid and neck conditions.
- Biopsy and neck exploration procedures
- Thyroidectomy (Total or Hemithyroidectomy)
Throat and Intraoral Procedures:
Advanced surgical management of throat and oral cavity conditions using laser and coblation techniques.
- Â Adenoidectomy and Tonsillectomy
- Laser/ Coblator-assisted tongue biopsies
- Surgical treatment or biopsy of intraoral swellings
Laryngeal Cancer Surgery:
Advanced surgical treatment for Laryngeal Cancer, including minimally invasive techniques for early tumors.
- Early glottic cancer treatment using CO2 Laser Cordectomy
- Â Laryngeal cancer treatment including Total laryngectomy
Commitment to Voice, Airway and Safe Swallow
The Laryngology Clinic at SMIMS is dedicated to restoring healthy voice, safe swallowing, and optimal airway function through early diagnosis, specialized treatment, and coordinated multidisciplinary care.
With modern diagnostic technology and experienced specialists, the clinic serves as a referral centre for voice and laryngeal disorders in the region
