KTP Laser in Tracheoesophageal surgery.

Abstract

Recently developed KTP laser has been used in the various fields of surgical operations due to its superior performance and easiness of manipulation, however few reports of its application for tracheoesophageal surgery have been made. We have operated over fifty patients with the KTP surgical laser system since March 1992, and found it quite useful. KTP laser has advantages over carbon dioxide laser or YAG laser which have been widely used in otolaryngology, head and neck surgery. First of all, KTP laser has a balanced ability of cutting and hemostasis, so hemostatic cutting can be done easily. Second, Its fiber optic delivery system makes it easy for the operator to manipulate the device. 532 nano meter wavelength of KTP laser is well absorbed into hemoglobin, which makes KTP laser ideal for the treatment of hemangioma. Four representative cases are described in this paper. Two patients had an esophageal stenosis, and the other two had pharyngolaryngeal hemangioma. Hemostatic cutting ability of the KTP laser was useful for three patients and photocoagulation was applied to one of the hemangioma patients. No surgical complications occured and the results of the operations were satisfying.