Lasers in medical science
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Lasers in medical science · Feb 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialA prospective randomized trial comparing stapler and laser techniques for interlobar fissure completion during pulmonary lobectomy.
Alveolar air leaks, often resulting from lung tissue traumatization during dissection of fissures, still remain a challenging problem in lung surgery. Several tools and techniques have been used to reduce air leakage, but none was judged ideal. This prospective, randomized trial was designed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of completion of fissures during pulmonary lobectomy by using a laser system. ⋯ Complications (36.4 vs 77.3 %; p = 0.006), hospital stay (6.9 ± 3.8 vs 9.9 ± 6.9 days; p = 0.03), hospitalization costs (5,650 vs 8,147 euros; p = 0.01), and procedure costs (77 % of difference; p < 0.0001) were significantly lower for L group, while operative time was longer (197 ± 34 vs 158 ± 41 min; p = 0.004). The use of laser dissection to prevent postoperative air leaks is effective and comparable with stapler technique. Aero-haemostatic laser properties (by sealing of small blood vessels and checking air leaks) allow a safe application during pulmonary lobectomy in interlobar fissure completion avoiding stapler use.
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Lasers in medical science · Mar 2010
Randomized Controlled TrialUltrasonographic evaluation of plantar fasciitis after low-level laser therapy: results of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on plantar fasciitis documented by the ultrasonographic appearance of the aponeurosis and by patients' pain scores. Thirty individuals with diagnosis of unilateral plantar fasciitis were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, but 25 participants completed the therapeutic protocol. The contralateral asymptomatic fascia was used as control. ⋯ Pain estimation on the visual analogue scale had improved significantly in all test situations (after night rest, daily activities) after LLLT when compared with that of the placebo group. (P=0.006 and P=0.01, respectively). Additionally, when the difference in pain scores was compared between the two groups, the change was statistically significant (after night rest P=0.000; daily activities P=0.001). In summary, while ultrasound imaging is able to depict the morphologic changes related to plantar fasciitis, 904 nm gallium-arsenide (GaAs) infrared laser may contribute to healing and pain reduction in plantar fasciitis.
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Lasers in medical science · Jan 2010
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyComparison of the effects of short- and long-pulse durations when using a 585-nm pulsed dye laser in the treatment of new surgical scars.
More than 70 million surgical procedures are performed annually in the USA with the majority involving a skin lesion and almost all individuals in their lifetime will have one or more surgical procedures resulting in scars. Patients and physicians alike are thereby motivated to improve the cosmetic outcome of scars. Prior studies have shown that the pulsed dye laser (PDL) is effective in improving the quality and appearance of the scar when using the 585-nm PDL immediately after the removal of sutures. ⋯ The short-pulse and long-pulse 585-nm PDL-treated sections demonstrated a statistically significant overall average improvement of the VSS of 92 and 89%, respectively, compared to 67% for the control site (Fig. 1). Further, for individual parameters of the Vancouver scar scale (VSS), there were significant (p < 0.05) differences between control and treatment groups for all parameters, but there were no differences between the short- and long-pulse treatment groups for any parameter. Both short-pulse and long-pulse PDL are safe and effective in improving the quality and cosmetic appearance of surgical scars in skin type's I-IV starting on the day of suture removal with no significant difference between the two pulse durations.
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Lasers in medical science · Jul 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyA clinical comparison of topical piroxicam and EMLA cream for pain relief and inflammation in laser hair removal.
The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of topical piroxicam and EMLA cream on pain control and subsequent inflammation in neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) 1,064 nm laser hair removal in female volunteers. Fifty female volunteers were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, double-blind, clinical study over a 6-month period. Patients were randomly assigned to receive topical piroxicam as group Piroxicam or EMLA cream as group EMLA. ⋯ Inflammatory side effects were less frequent in group P than in group E after the procedure (P < 0.001). This study showed that topical piroxicam and EMLA provided adequate and similar pain relief after Nd:YAG 1,064 nm laser hair removal in female volunteers. Topical piroxicam was associated with fewer inflammatory side effects than was EMLA cream, because of its anti-inflammatory effect after the procedure.