Carbon dioxide laser-assisted thyroarytenoid myomectomy.

CO2 laser-assisted myomectomy of the thyroarytenoid muscle (TA) was carried out through a thyroplasty approach in ten laryngeal specimens and the TA was examined histologically. Using the CO2 laser at super-pulsed mode, the TA can be cut or resected using 3-5 W of laser power. There is good control of the depth and extent of TA resection. Histologically, there is little evidence of collateral injury, with sparing of vital surrounding vocal structures. The use of CO2 laser for TA resection offers better access and surgical hemostasis in an otherwise difficult surgical field. Laser-assisted myomectomy may be a feasible alternative to current methods to treat spasmodic dysphonia.