Thulium laser in airway diseases in children.
OBJECTIVE
To specify the characteristics of the thulium laser and to evaluate the advantages and possibilities of treatment with this laser in laryngotracheal diseases in children.


RESULTS
Fiber-based lasers have facilitated a new style of surgery. When performing therapeutic airways endoscopies there is the possibility of good control of lesions and adequate visualization of the surgical field using the telescope. Different types of laser may be used but the 2013-nm thulium laser shows promise as a laser that is efficient in soft tissues with the advantages of the other lasers without their problems. The thulium laser has been described in treating urinary tract abnormalities and recently airways diseases in adults, but there are no reports of other uses for this technique in the pediatric airway.


CONCLUSIONS
The thulium laser appears to be an interesting tool in the management of laryngotracheal diseases such as subglottic stenosis, tracheal granuloma and laryngomalacia. The use of this laser in laryngotracheal diseases in children will probably progress in the future.
Ayari-Khalfallah
Sonia
S
Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Cervicofacial Surgery, Edouard Herriot Hospital, Lyon, France. sonia.khalfallah@chu-lyon.fr
Fuchsmann
Carine
C
Froehlich
Patrick
P
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D013932:Thulium; D014133:Tracheal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D014139:Tracheostomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D013932:Thulium