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Contact Nd: YAG tonsillectomy: Effects on weight loss and recovery
Author(s) -
Maloney Richard W.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
lasers in surgery and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1096-9101
pISSN - 0196-8092
DOI - 10.1002/lsm.1900110605
Subject(s) - tonsillectomy , medicine , sapphire , surgery , laser , weight loss , head and neck , optics , physics , obesity
Contact Nd: YAG tonsillectomy using synthetic sapphire blades appears to meet or exceed standards established by spot monopolar cautery. Subjects' percentage of weight loss and return to work/social activities was measured and the laser group displayed less percentage of weight loss, faster return to pre‐operative weight, and less recovery time than the comparative cautery group. Because of the unique nature of Nd: YAG laser light combined with sapphire blades, special consideration should be given to these accessories by physicians before attempting tissue cutting and vessel coagulation. The author believes that the extent of physician training and proficiency may be key to the success of soft tissue head and neck applications, such as tonsillectomy, which will have an effect on the outcome of clinical data.