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Experimental study on thermic effects, morphology and function of guinea pig cochlea: A comparison between the erbium:yttrium–aluminum–garnet laser and carbon dioxide laser
Author(s) -
Ren DongDong,
Chi FangLu
Publication year - 2008
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.20647
Subject(s) - laser , cochlea , carbon dioxide laser , irradiation , materials science , inner ear , yttrium , biomedical engineering , optics , medicine , anatomy , laser surgery , physics , nuclear physics , metallurgy , oxide
Abstract Background and objective Surgery of the inner ear requires atraumatic techniques to preserve the morphology of the inner ear. Recent experiment and clinical studies have demonstrated that several laser systems are suitable for cochleostomy. The goal of this study was to quantify the thermic effects, morphology and function of guinea pig cochlea in vivo by comparing the erbium:yttrium–aluminum–garnet (Er:YAG) laser and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) laser and to determine the optimum laser parameters for safe clinical treatment. Study design/materials and methods A fenestration in the basal cochlear turn of guinea pigs was created. A type K thermocouple was placed on the membrane of round window to detect the local temperature change during laser irradiation. The auditory evoked brainstem response (ABR) was measured before and after laser application. Confocal laser microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used for cochlear morphology. Results An increased hearing loss immediately and 4 weeks later after irradiation was observed in animals with the higher power CO 2 laser in accordance with a higher temperature increase during laser application. In contrast, a wider safety scope of Er:YAG application in cochleostomy was presented with little temperature increase. These findings were correlated with the ultrastructural changes in guinea pig cochlea. Conclusion The Er:YAG and CO 2 lasers are shown to be safe if the total amount of energy is kept within the limits applied in this study. In addition, on this preliminary basis by guinea pig laser cochleostomy, Er:YAG laser maybe less damaging to inner ear structures than CO 2 laser with a larger safety scope and less thermic effects. Lesers Surg. Med. 40:407–414, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.