Variations in laser energy outputs over a series of simulated treatments.

BACKGROUND: Test patches are routinely employed to determine the likely efficacy and the risk of adverse effects from cutaneous laser treatments. However, the degree to which these represent a full treatment has not been investigated in detail. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the variability in pulse-to-pulse output energy from a representative selection of cutaneous laser systems in order to assess the value of laser test patches. METHODS: The output energies of each pulse from seven cutaneous laser systems were measured using a pyroelectric measurement head over a 2-h period, employing a regime of 10-min simulated treatments followed by a 5-min rest period (between patients). RESULTS: Each laser system appeared to demonstrate a different pattern of variation in output energy per pulse over the period measured. CONCLUSIONS: The output energies from a range of cutaneous laser systems have been shown to vary considerably between a representative test patch and a full treatment, and over the course of an entire simulated clinic list.

Prevention or treatment of hypertrophic burn scarring: a review of when and how to treat with the pulsed dye laser.

The purpose of this review is to investigate the use of Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL) as a therapeutic tool for hypertrophic burns scarring. The difference between keloids and hypertrophic scars is first described. The review then outlines the progress and assessment of hypertrophic scars for burns patients and the problem of their clinical management. The assessment using both objective and subjective measurements for complete account of hypertrophic scars is explained. The efficacy of PDL for both prevention and treatment is summarised for all hypertrophic scarring and the various laser treatment protocols in previous research is studied. The differentiation between prevention and treatment is discussed in relation to scar duration and the need for prevention rather than treatment is then proposed for intervention using PDL. The paper concludes with recommendations for future research through a prospective randomised, controlled study using 595 nm PDL in the prevention of scars with less than 6 month duration.

Susceptibility of the pilot balloon of the disposable laryngeal mask airway to puncture during laser therapy.

The tube of the laryngeal mask airway is frequently protected by foil during ablative laser procedures. The pilot balloon, however, is often left exposed. The effect of firing seven different cutaneous lasers at the pilot balloon of a disposable laryngeal mask airway was examined to assess its susceptibility to accidental laser strikes. The time taken for each laser to penetrate the pilot balloon was calculated from an average of five laser strikes. The carbon dioxide and erbium YAG lasers punctured the pilot balloon in a mean (SD) of 0.07 (0.02) s and 0.7 (0.1) s, respectively, with the neodymium YAG laser the next quickest to puncture at 3.3 (1.0) s. All other lasers punctured the pilot balloon in less than 15 s. These data suggest that protection of the pilot balloon of the LMA is necessary when using carbon dioxide and erbium YAG lasers.