On Sunday Petista underwent a procedure to remove leukoplakia at the Sírio-Libanês hospital; recovery includes voice rest and speech therapy sessions
The hoarseness of the president-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva should improve after the recovery period since operation to which the petista was subjected this Sunday 20. This is what predicts Dr. Luiz Paulo Kowalski, head and neck surgeon at the Sírio-Libanês hospital and member of the team caring for Lula.
“Of course, in these first days of recovery, due to post-op swelling, the president will be hoarse, but, after recovery, the expectation is that hoarseness will be better than it was at the end of the presidential campaign.” , clarified the specialist, who is also a professor of head and neck surgery at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (FMUSP).
The president-elect has initiated a procedure for the withdrawal of a leukoplakia on the vocal cords, a lesion which, in 10% of cases, can turn into cancer. Preliminary analysis of the lesion operated on during surgery showed that there was no evidence of malignancy. A definitive exam is expected to have its result released between Monday and Tuesday, but the chance of curing the cancer is “nearly zero,” according to the doctor.
Hoarseness is one of the symptoms of leukoplakia, a lesion characterized by a white plaque on the mucous membrane. With the removal of the lesion and a decrease in inflammation at the site, doctors expect the president’s voice to improve. Lula will also undergo speech therapy sessions to help him speak “more calmly and with less effort,” according to Kowalski.
According to the surgeon, the president should not abuse the use of his voice in the first week of recovery. “He should be on voice rest, but he can speak normally, attend meetings and talk on the phone. What he cannot do is exaggerate, strain himself, shout in speeches, talk for a long time, because this can hinder healing ”, explains the specialist. “But he can continue to participate in the transition activities, this will not interfere with anything, he will be able to give his opinion on the decisions. But he will have to be more of a listener to not force his voice so much,” said the doctor.
In addition to post-operative care, Lula will have to undergo tests for five years to monitor the possible appearance of new lesions. “You should undergo periodic laryngoscopy. At first it will be with an interval of three to four months. After a year, the period between examinations may be longer,” comments the doctor.
How was the surgery
Lula’s surgery lasted 40 minutes, was performed under general anesthesia, and was uneventful. According to the surgeon, the surgery began around 8pm on Sunday the 20th and went without complications. The president-elect was discharged on the morning of this Monday 21st, about 12 hours after the completion of the operation.
The operation was performed without the need for external cuts and was aided by a device that uses a laser to remove the leukoplakia more precisely. The lesion removed was about 5 millimeters, according to Kowalski. To give you an idea, a vocal cord is about an inch long.
According to the surgeon, in this type of procedure, surgical instruments are inserted through the oral cavity. “We insert a laryngoscope and an operating microscope through which we can have a very clear view of the appearance and limits of the lesion. No incision is made,” explains the doctor. “They are very delicate instruments. That’s why after a few hours the patient can already eat and talk, as long as he doesn’t overdo it».
The specialist explains that a device that uses a laser to cut the lesion has also been used. “It’s something that makes the procedure easier by having a very precise cut and cauterizing small vessels, which helps with healing,” the doctor says.
The surgeon also said it was necessary to remove “a small piece” of structure in the region known as the false vocal cord. “It was a little swollen due to the patient having had radiation therapy in the past and frequent use of the voice over the last few weeks, so we had to remove a small piece to make it easier to see and access the area that would be been operated on”.
Kowalski explains that the lesion was completely removed and sent for examination. At the time of the surgery, a pathologist had already done what we call a frozen section and found that it was mild, low-risk dysplasia,” he said.
Seven professionals participated in the procedure, in addition to the clinical support team on call in case of any occurrence. “Due to the president’s age, we have a clinical support team, led by Dr. Roberto Kalil, but the procedure was very smooth. He is an elderly but very healthy patient,” the doctor said.
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Source: Terra

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.