Transendoscopic application of CO_2 laser irradiation using the OmniGuide Fiber to treat dorsal displacement of the soft palate in the horse

摘要

Transendoscopic laser surgery has been performed in horses since 1984. It is used to treat many upper respiratory disorders, as well as urogenital diseases. Initially, the Nd:YAG laser was the laser of choice until the early 1990s, when smaller, more compact diode lasers entered the veterinary field. In the mid 1980s, several attempts were made to transmit CO_2 laser energy transendoscopically. True success was not obtained until 2004 when the OmniGuide CO_2 Fiber was fabricated. Although there is attenuation of energy, this very flexible fiber allows the CO_2 laser to be used transendoscopically for incision and ablation of tissue. Intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate has more recently been treated using a diode laser and contact fiber to scarify the caudal border of the soft palate. This procedure was initially reported as being performed in combination with a myectomy. The CO_2 laser's fiber was used in eight cases. It offered no touch technique and allowed improved visualization of the target tissue. Both healing and recuperation time were reduced, compared to other wavelengths transmitted through solid quartz fiber. The OmniGuide Fiber can be coupled to the output port of CO_2 lasers commonly used in veterinary medicine. Transendoscopic application of the CO_2 laser is advantageous in that there is no endoscopic white-out, no volume heating of tissue, and it provides an accurate means of performing upper respiratory surgery in the standing horse.