Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-8bhkd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-08T02:31:16.920Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Holmium:YAG laser: 12-year study of indications for use and outcomes in benign and malignant otolaryngological conditions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 April 2010

J Joseph ,
M-C Jaberoo  and
M Dilkes
J Joseph*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Barts and the London NHS Trust, London, UK
M-C Jaberoo
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Barts and the London NHS Trust, London, UK
M Dilkes
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Barts and the London NHS Trust, London, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr Jonathan Joseph, 5 Widecombe Way, Hampstead Garden Suburb, London N2 0HJ, UK. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background:

We present the largest recorded case series of holmium:YAG laser use in otolaryngology. This laser's hand-held delivery device is easier to manipulate compared with other ENT lasers, and its pulsed delivery mode gives it enhanced cutting and coagulation properties.

Methods and results:

We conducted a 12-year, retrospective study of holmium:YAG laser use in a tertiary referral centre. Sixty-eight patients were included. Nineteen received primary laser treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract (nine with simultaneous neck dissection), and 49 underwent either palatine or lingual tonsillectomy for benign disease. One cancer patient developed a pharyngo-cutaneous fistula, and a second suffered a secondary haemorrhage. No other complications were recorded. There were no local recurrences.

Conclusions:

The holmium:YAG laser is safe and effective for benign and malignant otolaryngological conditions. In cancer treatment, it may be best to delay neck dissection until the primary site has healed, in order to avoid fistula formation.

Keywords

Laser SurgeryHolmiumHead And Neck NeoplasmsOtorhinolaryngological Surgical Procedures
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 124 , Issue 8 , August 2010 , pp. 896 - 898
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Bradley, PJ, MacKenzie, K, Wright, R, Pracy, P, Paleri, V. Consensus statement on management in the UK: transoral laser assisted microsurgical resection of early glottic cancer. Clin Otolaryngol 2009;34:367–73CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2 Epstein, JB, Emerton, S, Kolbinson, DA, Nhu, DL, Phillips, N, Stevenson-Moore, P et al. Quality of life and oral function following radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Head Neck 1991;21:1–11Google Scholar
3 Ambrosch, P. The role of laser microsurgery in the treatment of laryngeal cancer. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2007;15:82–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4 Arrabal-Polo, MA, Arrabal-Martin, M, Mijan-Ortiz, JL, Valle-Diaz, F, Merino-Salas, S, Zuluaga-Gomez, A. Treatment of ureteric lithiasis with retrograde ureteroscopy and holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy vs extracorporeal lithotripsy. BJU Int 2009;104:1144–7Google Scholar
5 Yamada, Y, Inoue, Y, Nakamura, K, Naruse, K, Aoki, S, Taki, T et al. Long-term results and management of ureteric transitional cell carcinoma using the holmium:YAG laser via rigid ureteroscopy. Oncol Rep 2009;21:345–9Google Scholar
6 Panwar, SS, Martin, FW. Transnasal endoscopic holmium:YAG laser correction of choanal atresia. J Laryngol Otol 1996;110:429–31CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7 Ku, PKM, Tong, MCF, Van Hasselt, A. Application of holmium yttrium aluminium garnet (YAG) laser in treatment of acquired posterior choanal atresia following radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. J Laryngol Otol 2007;121:134–42Google Scholar
8 Ovchinnikov, Y, Sobol, G, Svistushkin, V, Shekhter, A, Bagratashvili, V, Sviridov, A. Laser septochondrocorrection. Arch Facial Plast Surg 2002;4:180–5CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9 Metson, R. Holmium:YAG laser endoscopic sinus surgery: a randomised, controlled study. Laryngoscope 1996;160(suppl 77):1–18Google Scholar