Adele prognosis after vocal cord surgery is good, her doctor says

The latest update on the singer Adele, who recently underwent microsurgery for a benign polyp on her vocal cords, is good. A statement released from Massachusetts General Hospital, where the singer had surgery, says her prognosis is optimistic:

“Adele underwent vocal cord microsurgery by Dr. Steven Zeitels to stop recurrent vocal cord hemorrhage (bleeding) from a benign polyp. This condition is typically the result of unstable blood vessels in the vocal cord that can rupture. Based on the advice of her doctor and voice therapist in the United Kingdom, Adele came to Boston to consult and undergo corrective voice surgery with Dr. Zeitels, the Director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Voice Center. ... Dr. Zeitels expects Adele to make a full recovery from her laser microsurgery.”

Zeitels, the statement went on to say, uses specialized lasers to stop vocal cord bleeding in singers. Steven Tyler of Aerosmith was another of his patients; he underwent throat sugery in 2006.

Adele has been plagued with vocal cord problems for months, issues that eventually forced her to cancel her 2011 tour last month. At that time it was disclosed she had a vocal hemorrhage, the result of vocal cords frequently colliding with one another. Such an injury can put the brakes on singing performances, said Dr. Dr. Lee Akst, a laryngologist and director of the Johns Hopkins Voice Center in Baltimore who did not treat the singer. In more serious cases a hemorrhage can produce a polyp that can be removed with microsurgery.

We wish Adele a speedy recovery, and stay tuned for further updates.