title: Optimal parameters for CO2 laser reconstruction of urethral tissue using a protein solder.
abstract: This study was designed to determine the optimal laser parameters for welding urethral tissue and to develop further understanding of the welding process. A partial transection of the pendulous rat urethra was repaired using laser powers of 80, 120, and 160 milliwatts with shutter speeds of 50 milliseconds, 100 milliseconds, and in a continuous wave mode. Repairs were made using the laser alone and the laser plus a protein solder. Measurements of intraluminal bursting strength, percentage stricture and histology were performed. The highest bursting strength with the least amount of tissue damage was achieved using a power of 120 milliwatts with 100 milliseconds pulses and the addition of a protein solder. The average percentage stricture was lowest with the laser plus solder repair (4.2%) when compared to laser only repair (14%). Intraluminal bursting strength was similar in both types of repairs. Histology demonstrated marked changes in collagen organization after laser application in all models.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Medical College of Hampton Roads, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Poppas
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Rooke
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Schlossberg
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D003094:Collagen / Q000648:ultrastructure; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011506:Proteins; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014521:Urethra / Q000601:surgery* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D003094:Collagen