Dr. Anthony Fauci Recovering From Vocal Cord Surgery

Dr. Anthony Fauci has quietly undergone surgery, CNN reports.

On Thursday morning (August 20), the White House Coronavirus Task Force member confirmed to the outlet that he received the surgical procedure to remove a polyp on his vocal cord. According to NYU Langone Hospital, a vocal cord polyp is the most common type of benign vocal cord lesion. The "blister-like injuries" are most often caused by "a single traumatic event," such as a sustained period of yelling.

Dr. Fauci, who also leads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, participated in a number of interviews and virtual events leading up to his surgery on Thursday. His most recent public appearance was on Wednesday (August 19), the day before he went under the knife.

In the past, Dr. Fauci has discussed his vocal cord injury with the public. He told the Economic Club of Washington in April "that when you get your voice damaged a little -- I probably have a polyp there -- the only way to get better is to keep your mouth shut."

Unfortunately for Dr. Fauci, he's been quite busy this year as the nation continues to deal with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As one of the most vocal and public facing members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, it's safe to assume his vocal cords did not get the rest they needed in recent months.

According to NYU Langone, vocal rest is a crucial part of polyp removal recovery. As of now, it's unclear whether Dr. Fauci received laser surgery or a microlaryngoscopy. If he received a microlaryngoscopy, it's likely he will need two to three weeks of recovery time.

Photo: Getty