Premium
CO 2 laser urethroplasty in the rabbit: A preclinical model
Author(s) -
Choma Theodore J.,
Poppas Dix P.,
Presberg Harry J.,
Cundiff Maria,
Schlossberg Steven M.
Publication year - 1992
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.1900120612
Subject(s) - urethroplasty , medicine , preputial gland , hypospadias , surgery , urethral stricture , urology , urethra
Our previous work has shown that the CO 2 laser can be successfully used in urethral reconstruction in a rat model. This new experiment investigates the use of the CO 2 laser to perform a patch graft urethroplasty in the rabbit, as a preclinical model to its use in the repair of hypospadias in humans. Using sterile technique, a patch graft of preputial skin was welded in the repair of a standardized urethral defect in 10 rabbits. In another cohort, the same urethral defect was repaired using standard microsuture technique. In a control group the patch graft was placed with microsuture in a nonwatertight fashion. All animals were followed for 3 weeks. Histologic and radiologic analyses were done in a blinded fashion. Our study showed that CO 2 laser repair, when compared to microsuture in urethral reconstruction, required 40% less operative time and produced better graft healing and less intraluminal scarring. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.