Comparison of erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet and holmium:yttrium-aluminum- garnet lasers for incision of urethra and bladder neck in an in vivo Porcine model

Ioannis M. Varkarakis, Takeshi Inagaki, Mohamad E. Allaf, Theresa Y. Chan, Craig G. Rogers, E. James Wright, Nathaniel M. Fried

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

To evaluate, in an animal model, differences in wound healing and scar formation in healthy urethra and bladder neck incised with the erbium (Er):yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG) and holmium (Ho):YAG lasers. In each of 18 domestic pigs, three 1-cm-long incisions were made, two at the bladder neck and one in the mid-urethra, using either the Er:YAG laser (9 pigs) or the Ho:YAG laser (9 pigs). In each laser group, 3 animals were killed on postoperative days 0, 6, and 14. The width of collateral damage, as evidenced by coagulation necrosis and granulation tissue at the wound base, and the incision depth were evaluated during tissue analysis. The collateral damage with the Er:YAG laser at postoperative day 0, 6, and 14 was 20 ± 5, 900 ± 100, and 430 ± 100 μm, respectively. The collateral damage with the Ho:YAG laser was 660 ± 110, 2280 ± 700, and 1580 ± 250 μm, respectively. The amount of granulation tissue was significantly less (P <0.05) at all time points with the Er:YAG laser. Similarly, the incision depths for the Er:YAG and Ho:YAG laser at postoperative day 6 (1100 ± 200 μm versus 1500 ± 300 μm, respectively) and 14 (670 ± 140 μm versus 1240 ± 140 μm, respectively) were also significantly less (P <0.05) for the Er:YAG laser group, indicating faster healing of the wound created. In this in vivo animal study, incisions in the urethra and bladder neck made with the Er:YAG laser healed faster and with less scar formation than incisions made with the Ho:YAG laser.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)191-195
Number of pages5
JournalUrology
Volume65
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2005

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Urology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Comparison of erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet and holmium:yttrium-aluminum- garnet lasers for incision of urethra and bladder neck in an in vivo Porcine model'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this