Open AccessDiode laser for paediatric airway procedures: a useful tool
Author(s) -
Bajaj Y.,
Pegg D.,
Gunasekaran S.,
Knight L. C.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
international journal of clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.756
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1742-1241
pISSN - 1368-5031
DOI - 10.1111/j.1742-1241.2008.01734.x
Subject(s) - medicine , laser , larynx , airway , diode , laser treatment , surgery , laser therapy , optics , optoelectronics , physics
Summary 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.