ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To present data on ten years' experience in CO2 laser surgery and associated complications among otorhinolayngologic patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study involved examining records of otorhinolaryngologic patients who underwent CO2 laser operations during a 10-year period (July 1, 1986-June 30, 1996). The sample consisted of 733 patients: 370 male and 363 female patients. CO2 laser surgery in otorhinolaryngology was first used in Ramathibodi Hospital on July 10, 1986. RESULTS: These patients were aged 2 months to 93 years with the mean age of 24.3 years (median = 16 years). Among 1,725 operations, 1,570 operations (91%) were performed under general anesthesia and 155 operations (9%) were performed under local anesthesia. In our series, the most frequent sites for laser surgery were as follows: larynx (77.22%), oral cavity and oropharynx (12.64%), skin (5.04%) and nose and paranasal sinuses (3.31%). Intraoperative complications occurred in 18 out of 1,725 (intra-operative complication rate of 1%). Laser-related complications were found in 13 out of 1,725 operations (0.75%) and non laser-related complications were found in 5 out of 1,725 operations (0.25%). There was no mortality. CONCLUSION: CO2 laser is a useful modality of treatment in otorhinolaryngologic surgery especially in the larynx. Our experience demonstrates the relative low incidence of complications (1%) and no mortality in otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Laser Therapy , Male , Middle Aged , Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases/surgeryABSTRACT
To evaluate the result of sublabial transnasomaxillary approach (STA) as a route for removal of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA). Eleven young male patients with angiofibroma underwent removal via the sublabial transnasomaxillary approach. This technique is described in detail. There was neither major operative nor postoperative complication. One patient developed dacryocystitis. Long term follow-up longer than 18 months in 5 patients, showed no recurrence. This technique is useful for removal of angiofibroma because it enables the surgeon to gain extensive exposure of maxillary, ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses and to control sphenopalatine and internal maxillary arteries, without risk of palatal dysfunction or of oronasal fistula. Other advantages comprise the lack of a facial scar, nasal septal scar and bilateral premaxillar numbness, and good postoperative assessment.