[A comparative study of complications in transoral CO2 and Nd:YAG laser surgery for glottic carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE

To compare the complications in transoral CO2 and Nd:YAG laser surgery for the treatment of laryngeal carcinoma.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of 83 cases of glottic laryngeal carcinoma treated with laser surgery from January 1, 1999 to December 31, 2008 was carried out. Thirty-two cases were treated with the CO2 laser, including Tis (2 cases), T1N0M0 (21 cases), T2N0M0 (8 cases), and T3N0M0 (1 case). Fifty-one cases were treated with the Nd:YAG laser, including Tis (3 cases), T1N0M0 (36 cases), T1N2M0 (3 cases), and T2N0M0 (9 cases).

RESULTS

Four complications (12.5%) occurred in the CO2 laser group. There was 1 local infection (3.1%), 1 numbness of the tongue (3.1%), 1 odontoseisis (3.1%), and 1 subcutaneous emphysema (3.1%). Twenty-seven complications (52.9%) occurred in 19 patients in the Nd:YAG laser group. There were postoperative bleeding 2 (3.9%), dyspnea 5 (9.8%), local infection 7 (13.7%), aspiration pneumonia 4 (7.8%), numbness of the tongue 2(3.9%), pharyngeal cutaneous fistula 1 (2.0%), vocal cord fixation 4 (7.8%), and laryngostenosis 2 (3.9%).

CONCLUSION

More complications were observed in the patients with Nd:YAG laser surgery when compared to the patients with CO2 laser surgery.