[Erbium:YAG laser surgery on vocal fold tissue]

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Laser Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Microsurgery of the vocal fold demands precise cutting and minimal thermal damage.
• Erbium:YAG lasers offer potential for specialized surgical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the suitability of Erbium:YAG lasers for phonosurgery.
• To investigate laser-tissue interactions on porcine vocal folds.

Main Methods:

• Porcine larynx vocal folds were irradiated using an Erbium:YAG laser (3 µm wavelength).
• Ablation rate, mechanical, and thermal damage were analyzed.
• Parameters varied included pulse duration, repetition rate, and laser fluence.

Main Results:

• Erbium:YAG lasers demonstrated suitability for vocal fold applications.
• Laser-induced thermal damage was superficial (20-30 µm), causing epithelial loss.
• Thermal necrosis depth was approximately 5 µm.

Conclusions:

• Erbium:YAG lasers are well-suited for vocal fold microsurgery due to precise ablation and limited thermal spread.
• Further research on human vocal folds is essential to validate clinical applicability.