Treatment of vascular lesions using the VersaPulse variable pulse width frequency doubled neodymium:YAG laser.
BACKGROUND
The flashlamp-pumped dye laser is considered the treatment of choice for vascular lesions including port-wine stains. However, this treatment is associated with an intensive postoperative purpura and considerable pain.


OBJECTIVE
We tested a newly developed laser device with a 532-nm neodymium:YAG laser with variable pulse widths between 2 and 10 ms.


METHODS
Forty-two consecutive patients from our laser clinics were treated with the new laser system delivering energy through a chilled tip by means of circulating water (cooling temperature was between 4 and 5.5 degreesC). Forty of them had been pre-treated with an argon laser and an argon-pumped dye laser.


RESULTS
Out of the 42 patients, 1 patient had a complete clearing, 11 had an excellent result (more than 80% clearing), 21 patients had a good result (51-75% clearing), weak responses were seen in 9 patients. Significant success was already seen after 1 or 2 treatments. Side effects were rare. There was no purpura after treatment. Local anesthesia was only applied in 6 out of 42 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The variable pulse width frequency doubled neodymium:YAG laser seems to be an alternative to the flashlamp-pumped dye laser and deserves to be investigated in comparative trials.
Dummer
R
R
Dermatologische Klinik, Universitätsspital Zürich, Schweiz.
Graf
P
P
Greif
C
C
Burg
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D000794:Angiokeratoma / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D018324:Hemangioma, Capillary / Q000601:surgery; D006392:Hemangioma, Cavernous / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009354:Neodymium; D019339:Port-Wine Stain / Q000601:surgery; D011693:Purpura / Q000517:prevention & control; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D017445:Skin Diseases, Vascular / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015019:Yttrium
D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D009354:Neodymium; D015019:Yttrium