Nd:YAG laser surgery for the excision of pilonidal cysts: a comparison with traditional techniques.
OBJECTIVE
Nd:YAG laser photothermal ablation has been accepted as a treatment modality for hemorrhoidal disease. There is little reported on its use in treating pilonidal disease. We hypothesized that laser would be an excellent tool for pilonidal cystectomy, facilitating improved outcome and patient satisfaction.


METHODS
A 5-year retrospective study was performed comparing Nd:YAG laser to the standard surgical technique. A telephone questionnaire addressing the length of time the cyst was debilitating both preoperatively and postoperatively as well as length of convalescent time before return to work was administered. Pain was assessed by using an analog pain scale.


RESULTS
Operative time for the traditional pilonidal cystectomy was 20 minutes longer than Nd:YAG laser cystectomy. Postoperative hospital stay was similar. Laser patients returned to work an average of 2.4 days earlier, and their postoperative pain was less than those treated traditionally.


CONCLUSIONS
In an era when the medical consumer makes decisions based on the efficacy of treatment by using criteria such as pain, length of hospitalization, and speed of return to work, Nd:YAG lasers have emerged as a surgical tool that can fulfill these criteria for certain procedures. Patient postoperative satisfaction after laser excision was greater when compared with those who had traditional excisions. Postoperative pain was less, as was the pain experienced during the first week of recovery. Cost for both was comparable.
Palesty
J A
JA
St. Mary's Hospital Department of Surgery, Waterbury, Connecticut 06706, USA.
Zahir
K S
KS
Dudrick
S J
SJ
Ferri
S
S
Tripodi
G
G
D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D003289:Convalescence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D009354:Neodymium; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010864:Pilonidal Sinus / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015019:Yttrium
D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D009354:Neodymium; D015019:Yttrium