If your doctor recommends surgery for treatment of your problem, you may decide to schedule surgery at the time of your clinic visit or after you have had time to consider the doctor’s recommendations with your friends and family.

Surgery with Duke Voice Care Center is performed at three locations -- either at Duke University Hospital, the Duke Ambulatory Surgery Center, or Duke Raleigh Hospital. The location of your surgery depends upon many factors, including the type of surgery, your other illnesses and general health, and operating room availability.

You will need to schedule a preoperative evaluation where you will have a general examination and blood tests drawn as needed. An EKG and a chest x-ray may be performed as well depending upon your medical history.

At the preoperative evaluation, you will receive important information regarding eating and drinking before surgery, taking your usual medications, and information about anesthesia. Driving and parking directions to the location of your surgery are provided at this time.

On the day before your surgery, a nurse will call to remind you about your preoperative instructions and to give you a time to report to the hospital. This time is generally two hours prior to your scheduled surgery time. This allows us to check you in, verify your information, administer any medications that are needed before your surgery, and assure that you are consented and prepared for surgery.

If you do not receive a call from the nurse about your surgery time, please call these numbers to confirm what time you need to report to the hospital:

• Duke University Hospital: 919-684-4718  or 800-382-6238 Monday-Friday
• Duke Ambulatory Care Center: 888-780-6084
• Duke Raleigh Hospital: 919-862-5734

To learn more about voice surgery at Duke, click one of the links below.

• Frequently Asked Questions about Voice Surgery
• Voice Use after Microsurgery
• Office-Based Voice Procedures
• Operative Voice Procedures
• Procedures to Evaluate Swallowing