COMPARATIVE STUDY OF WOUND HEALING IN PORCINE SKIN WITH CO₂ LASER AND OTHER SURGICAL MODALITIES: PRELIMINARY FINDINGS

Abstract

The CO2 laser and electrosurgery both produce greater focal tissue damage in incisional and ablative applications than the other modalities. Delayed epithelialization of the wound occurs with both modalities in incisional wounds but only with electrosurgery in ablative wounds. At 6 weeks, the appearance of the scar in all incisional and ablative modalities is similar grossly and histologically. Confirmation of these findings requires standardization of power density of the CO2 laser in incision and ablation.

Wound healing and collagen thermal damage in 7.5-?sec pulsed CO2 laser skin incisions

“…Despite these advantages, the CO 2 laser and lasers in general have the disadvantage of causing a delay in wound healing when compared with scalpel incisions [1][2][3]. This is secondary to thermal damage to tissues surrounding the incisional area and thus produces tissue that must be removed before wounds can be repaired [4][5][6].…”

The alternative ear-piercing technique by using superpulsed carbon dioxide laser: a comparative study with spring-loaded gun

“…Some minor complications are noted after ear piercing, including erythema, edema and itching, which might be from the high energy setting of CO 2 lasers. Tissue damage is more extensive in CO 2 laser wounds in skin incisions compared with those using scalpel and electrosection [21,22]. In addition, the symptoms of erythema and edema are found to be recovered spontaneously within one week after EP.…”

<title>Effect of laser parameters and mode on pulp surgery outcome</title>

“…Areas of vacuolization, edema and hyperemia in laser-treated samples tended to be associated with the presence of carbonised and thermally-damaged tissue residues. Other authors have reported that these factors at the wound site can elicit a prolonged tissue response of the type observed in these specimens 13,23 Recent incisional and ablational studies in soft tissue have demonstrated the capability for efficient and effective laser soft tissue ablation producing zones of collateral thermal damage measuring as little as l5jim 19 Thus, the potential exists for substantially improving the outcome of localised laser pulp surgery by optimising the laser parameters selected.…”