title: Fiber-guided CO2 laser surgery in an animal model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study tested a newly developed flexible fiber for CO(2) laser surgery.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The lack of a flexible delivery system with the current CO(2) laser has limited its surgical application. We conducted in vitro and in vivo studies by using the skin tissue model of animals to test a new laser fiber system.
  
  
  METHODS
  In an in vitro study, the acute thermal effect of laser surgery using this new fiber was tested and compared on fresh porcine skin at 3.0-5.0-W laser power and at 0.3-0.5-mm spot size. In the in vivo experiments, the healing process of the skin incisions and wounds was followed microscopically in 16 rats, at post-operative days 2, 6, 12, and 21 after the laser surgery with 3.0-W power and 0.5-mm spot size.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results from the in vitro tissue showed limited thermal damage to neighboring tissue. In the in vivo study, there was rapid postoperative healing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that this fiber system, at least with the laser parameters used in this study, appears to be an effective and feasible alternative for CO(2) laser surgery. It has great potential for development of office-based surgery under local anesthesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Boston Medical Center/Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. zwang@bu.edu
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Anand K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Devaiah
authors.forename: Lining
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Urmen
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dasai
authors.forename: Gil
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shapira
authors.forename: Ori
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Weisberg
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Stanley M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Shapshay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D023421:Models, Animal; D051381:Rats; D013552:Swine; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide