In this special issue of the Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) journal entitled Lasers in Otolaryngology, we attempted to cover and accommodate different experiences from around the globe on both established and some not so well-known techniques and indications for Lasers in most ENT subspecialties.
This study compared Coblation and diode laser tonsillectomy regarding operative time, blood loss, postoperative pain, and complications in 62 patients in Baghdad, Iraq. Each patient underwent both procedures, one on each side. Coblation showed significantly lower operative time and blood loss. However, diode laser resulted in significantly less postoperative pain at 3 hours, 8 hours, 24 hours, and 7 days. Thus, Coblation is advantageous for shorter surgery and less bleeding, while diode laser is preferred for reducing postoperative pain.
The 445 nm "blue laser" has expanded the range of phonosurgical interventions, overcoming limitations of pulse dye and KTP lasers. It shows similar tissue effects to KTP lasers, treats subepithelial vessels, and functions as a cutting laser. Advantages include portability, variable pulse rates, stronger tissue effects, and better cutting properties. The blue laser is effective in both office and operating room settings, with potential applications in laryngology and other surgical fields. Preliminary experiments and clinical cases demonstrate its feasibility, though further systematic studies are needed.
Treating sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease (SPD) remains challenging, with no consensus on the best approach. This study evaluates the efficacy of 1470-nm radial diode laser fiber ablation in 48 patients treated between March 2019 and July 2022. The healing rate was 100%, with an average healing time of 28.3 days. The mean operative time was 15.5 minutes, and the recurrence rate was 2.1%. Postoperative pain was minimal, with no infections or bleeding. Patients resumed normal activities in 7.1 days on average and were highly satisfied. The 1470-nm radial diode laser fiber is effective, safe, minimally invasive, and promising for SPD treatment.
Benign proctologic conditions such as hemorrhoids, fistula in ano, anal fissures, and pilonidal sinus represent a significant workload in general and colorectal surgery. Over the past decade, laser-associated management options for these conditions have gained attention, and many surgeons have incorporated laser-based techniques into their treatments. Commonly used laser systems in the literature include CO2, neodymium YAG, and diode lasers. Recently, an increasing number of studies have focused on the use of diode lasers in managing proctologic disorders. This article introduces the clinical applications of diode lasers in rectal treatments.
