Immediate Effects of Co2 Laser Irradiation on Soft Tissue

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the immediate effects on soft tissue induced by CO2 laser irradiation. The tongue of mongrel dogs was used. The laser beam was applied to the tissue at a right angle. Macroscopic and light microscopic observations were made immediately after the irradiation. The results are as follows: 1) The immediate effects induced by CO2 laser irradiation are characterized by a crater formation resulting from rapid vaporization of the water component of the tissue. 2) The injury in the area adjacent to the crater results from thermal denaturation of the tissue proteins. The coagulated area is greater in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction. This may be attributed to the difference in heat transfer which follows a Gaussian distribution of CO2 laser energy. 3) The lymphatic and vascular channels are occluded in the coagulated area resulting in a significant hemostatic effect. Besides the hemostatic effect, this is of a great benefit in excision of malignant neoplasms, because of scattering of the tumor cells can be avoided.

Recent Advances in Phonosurgery

“…The results obtained by other investigators (Andrews and Moss, 1974;llirano. 1975;Mihashi, 1976) supported the above findings. The future of laser surgery as a type of phonosurgery appears promising.…”

“…The continuous C 0 2 laser was discovered in 1965 and shortly thereafter intensive research was conducted by a group in Boston (Strong and Jako, 1972;Vaughan, 1976;Polanyi et al, 1970;Mihashi et al, 1976). Through animal experiments (Jako, 1972), it was found that the new types of energy could be controlled with precision and safety and applied to a preselected area of the vocal cord.…”