Laser assisted palatoplasty and phartngeal flap

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of the CO2-laser energy in the operation of cleft palate and pharyngeal fiap compared with the traditional scalpel surgery. This investigation involved a series of 34 patients who underwent CO2-laser assisted palatoplasty and pharyngeal flap between 1995 and 1997. The 19 males and 15 females ranged from 13 months to 36 years in age (mean age of 5.6 years) at the time of surgery. The postoperative clinical follow-up ranged from 6 to 24 months (mean 12 months). The CO??-laser provided the surgeon with bloodless operative field with reduction in blood loss giving greater visibility. It also offered an advantage in deep surgical cavity in Ro-pharynx through an operative arm, reaching areas that would otherwise have been difficult to access by traditional means. There was less bleeding during the surgery using, and therefore, complication. associated with bleeding was minimalized. There were no significant differences in their wound healing between the traditional scapel method and the laser method. The mean hospitalization in the group using the laser was approximately one day less than the group using the scapel. Preliminary findings suggest that the laser assisted palatoplasty and pharyngeal flap has a definitive advantage in providing the surgeon with bloodless operative field, reduction of blood loss, early recovery. Disadvantages of the laser surgery is a learning curve, the expenses of equipment, and safety precaution.