Clinical applications of the holmium:YAG laser in disorders of the paediatric airway.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to review the role of the holmium:YAG laser in the management of paediatric airway disorders.


METHODS
Twenty-six paediatric patients underwent 42 airway procedures between June 1993 and August 1996 in a tertiary care centre. A case series design was used.


METHODS
Safety, precision, hemostasis, bone-cutting properties, and accessibility of the lesion to the equipment were compared to standard therapies. Postoperative outcomes were then compared to standard therapies.


RESULTS
Eight patients underwent correction of choanal atresia or revision, 10 patients underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery, 3 underwent excision of tracheal granuloma, 2 underwent excision of tracheal web or revisions, 1 underwent excision of subglottic stenosis and bronchial stenosis, 1 underwent excision hemangioma of the tongue, and 1 underwent excision papilloma of the oral cavity. One patient in 42 procedures suffered a surgical complication. Our early success rates are comparable to other series using the carbon dioxide laser or cold instruments.


CONCLUSIONS
The holmium:YAG laser is a safe, effective tool in the treatment of paediatric airway disorders and offers the advantage of a flexible fibre-optic system, good hemostasis, and better bone-cutting characteristics compared to the carbon dioxide laser, which is in widespread clinical use.
Fong
M
M
Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Izaak Walton Killam-Grace Health Center, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Clarke
K
K
Cron
C
C
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002754:Choanal Atresia / Q000601:surgery; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000601:surgery; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000601:surgery; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010157:Palatal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D010212:Papilloma / Q000601:surgery; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000601:surgery; D013577:Syndrome; D014060:Tongue Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D014133:Tracheal Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome