Laser welding in urethral surgery: improved results with a protein solder.
Reconstruction of the rat urethra using the CO2 laser and a protein solder has dramatically decreased the postoperative fistula rate and decreased surgical time over conventional microsurgical reconstruction. Using the rat as a model, a partial transection of the ventral urethra was repaired in one of three ways in 39 animals: conventional microsuture repair, laser assisted microsuture repair and laser assisted microsuture repair with a protein solder. The success rate in each group was 50%, 58% and 90% respectively. Therefore, the laser repair is an efficacious as conventional microsuture repair. More importantly, laser with solder is significantly better than either the conventional method or laser alone.
Poppas
D P
DP
Department of Urology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk.
Schlossberg
S M
SM
Richmond
I L
IL
Gilbert
D A
DA
Devine
C J
CJ
D000418:Albumins; D000818:Animals; D004527:Egg Proteins; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014521:Urethra / Q000601:surgery*
D000418:Albumins; D004527:Egg Proteins