Objective: The aim of this study was to review the role of the holmium:YAG
laser in the management of paediatric airway disorders.
Method: Twenty-six paediatric patients underwent 42 airway procedures betwe
en June 1993 and August 1996 in a tertiary care centre. A case series desig
n was used.
Outcome Measures: Safety, precision, hemostasis, bone-cutting properties, a
nd accessibility of the lesion to the equipment were compared to standard t
herapies. Postoperative outcomes were then compared to standard therapies.
Results: Eight patients underwent correction of choanal atresia or revision
, 10 patients underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery, 3 underwent ex
cision of tracheal granuloma, 2 underwent excision of tracheal web or revis
ions, 1 underwent excision of subglottic stenosis and bronchial stenosis, 1
underwent excision hemangioma of the tongue, and 1 underwent excision papi
lloma of the oral cavity. One patient in 42 procedures suffered a surgical
complication. Our early success rates are comparable to other series using
the carbon dioxide laser or cold instruments.
Conclusion: The holmium:YAG laser is a safe, effective tool in the treatmen
t of paediatric airway disorders and offers the advantage of a flexible fib
re-optic system, good hemostasis, and better bone-cutting characteristics c
ompared to the carbon dioxide laser, which is in widespread clinical use.