Pulsed CO2 laser versus conventional microsurgical anastomosis of the rat uterine horn

The effect of pulsed CO2 laser treatment on tissue reaction and fertility was evaluated. The left uterine horn was cut with a pulsed CO2 laser in 16 rats. In eight other rats, the left uterine horn was cut with microscissors. The anastomosis in both groups was accomplished by microsurgical techniques. The adhesions were mostly filmy after laser treatment, as compared with thick adhesions in the conventional group. Absence of adhesions was found in 62.5% and 50% of the laser and conventional surgery group, respectively. Histologically, some degree of fibrosis in the muscularis layer of the uterine horn was seen in the conventional group, whereas proper muscle continuity was seen in the laser-treated group. The pregnancy rates were 81% and 87.5% in the laser and conventional groups, respectively.