title: Laser welding of pedicled flap skin tubes.
abstract: The efficacy of the carbon dioxide laser used at high power levels for tissue destruction is well established. This laser at lower power levels has been used to incise and anastomose blood vessels, tendons, nerves, dura, bowel, fallopian tube, vasa deferentia, ureters and skin. Laser welding is faster, reduces surgical manipulation and introduces less foreign material into the wound than conventional suturing techniques. We tested the feasibility of laser welding of pedicled flap skin tubes to determine if there is a potential application in reconstruction, particularly for hypospadias repair.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Cornell University Medical Center, New York, New York.
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Mininberg
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Sosa
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Neidt
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Poe
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Somers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007021:Hypospadias / Q000601:surgery; D008028:Light Coagulation; D011817:Rabbits; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014945:Wound Healing