title: An in vitro comparison of the Erbium: YAG laser and the carbon dioxide laser in laryngeal surgery.
abstract: This study compares the relative thermal damage caused by a surgical CO2 laser and the Erbium:YAG laser when used to incise the human vocal fold in vitro. Results show that charring is completely eliminated when using the Erbium:YAG laser. The depth of coagulative necrosis adjacent to an incision is reduced from 510 microns (+/- 75) using the CO2 laser to 23 microns (+/- 12) using the Ebrium:YAG laser and at the base is reduced from 125 microns (+/- 45) using the CO2 laser to 12 microns (+/- 8) using the Erbium:YAG laser. The potential advantages regarding post-operative healing after laryngeal surgery are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Manchester University.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Herdman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Charlton
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Hinton
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Freemont
mesh_terms: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D004871:Erbium; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009336:Necrosis; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D004871:Erbium