Diode laser for paediatric airway procedures: a useful tool.
OBJECTIVE
A wide range of lasers have been used in the larynx. Diode laser is a portable and relatively inexpensive laser which is delivered via a glass fibre hand-held probe. The objective of this study was to report our experience with the use of diode laser in a variety of paediatric airway pathologies.


METHODS
In this study, 90 diode laser laryngeal procedures were performed on 31 patients in the age range of 1 month to 16 years at the time of the operation. The follow up after the procedure has been in the range of 6 months to 3 years.


RESULTS
As per our records 19/31 (61.3%) patients have been cured of their initial pathologies and were not under further review, 3/31 (9.6%) were having repeated laser treatments. The remaining 9/31 (29.0%) had to undergo further treatment. There was no laser-related intra-operative or postoperative complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Diode laser is a good tool for several paediatric laryngeal pathologies. The ability to guide the laser light using the flexible glass fibre directly onto the area requiring vapourisation enables very precise treatment.
Bajaj
Y
Y
Department of ENT, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK. ybajaj@hotmail.co.uk
Pegg
D
D
Gunasekaran
S
S
Knight
L C
LC
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome