[Is the CO2 laser surgery advantageous? A morphological and experimental study (author's transl)]

Area of Science:

• Surgical Technology
• Oncology
• Wound Healing Research

Context:

• Carbon dioxide (CO2) laser surgery is recognized for its non-contact cutting and hemostatic properties.
• Tumor surgery often benefits from obliterating blood and lymph vessels to prevent cancer cell metastasis.
• The efficacy of CO2 laser in preventing tumor cell spread requires critical evaluation.

Purpose:

• To critically assess the purported advantages of CO2 laser surgery in tumor treatment.
• To compare the wound healing process of CO2 laser incisions with conventional scalpel and thermocautery methods.
• To investigate the impact of CO2 laser incisions on lymphatic drainage and potential tumor cell migration.

Summary:

• Human skin incisions made by CO2 laser were morphologically analyzed using light microscopy.
• Wound healing in rat dorsal skin incisions made by CO2 laser, thermocautery, and scalpel was compared.
• India ink particle migration to lymph nodes from laser and scalpel incisions was studied post-contamination.

Impact:

• CO2 laser and thermocautery incisions exhibited delayed healing compared to scalpel incisions, attributed to extensive coagulation necrosis.
• Coagulation necrosis at wound margins did not obliterate lymphatic drainage.
• CO2 laser surgery does not guarantee prevention of metastatic spread and is primarily recommended for its hemostatic benefits.