TY - JOUR
T1 - CO2 laser safety considerations in facial skin resurfacing
AU - Rohrich, Rod J.
AU - Gyimesi, Ildiko M.
AU - Clark, Pat
AU - Burns, A. Jay
PY - 1997/10/1
Y1 - 1997/10/1
N2 - Carbon dioxide lasers have been used increasingly in the field of aesthetic plastic surgery, specifically for facial resurfacing procedures. As many plastic surgeons are now venturing into the arena of laser surgery for the first time, it is paramount to understand basic laser safety principles to protect our patients, the operating room personnel, and the laser surgeon. This article reviews basic laser principles and practices and delineates the safety requirements needed to perform laser resurfacing using the CO2 laser system. We subjected several common objects present in the operative field during resurfacing procedures to multiple passes of both the Coherent 5000 C laser and the Laser Industries (Sharplan) model 150XJ laser Silktouch to assess flammability and margins of safety. We tested endotracheal tubes, wet and dry towels, wet and dry gauze sponges, cottonoids, eye protectors, and ophthalmic ointments. Neither flame nor burn was incited in the moistened preparations. The dry objects tested produced flame. The plastic corneal protectors began to melt by the third pass and produced significant heat. Lastly, both the Lacrilube and Bacitracin ophthalmic ointments began to vaporize after three laser passes. On the basis of our findings in this study, we recommend guidelines for prudent and safe CO2 laster usage in facial skin resurfacing.
AB - Carbon dioxide lasers have been used increasingly in the field of aesthetic plastic surgery, specifically for facial resurfacing procedures. As many plastic surgeons are now venturing into the arena of laser surgery for the first time, it is paramount to understand basic laser safety principles to protect our patients, the operating room personnel, and the laser surgeon. This article reviews basic laser principles and practices and delineates the safety requirements needed to perform laser resurfacing using the CO2 laser system. We subjected several common objects present in the operative field during resurfacing procedures to multiple passes of both the Coherent 5000 C laser and the Laser Industries (Sharplan) model 150XJ laser Silktouch to assess flammability and margins of safety. We tested endotracheal tubes, wet and dry towels, wet and dry gauze sponges, cottonoids, eye protectors, and ophthalmic ointments. Neither flame nor burn was incited in the moistened preparations. The dry objects tested produced flame. The plastic corneal protectors began to melt by the third pass and produced significant heat. Lastly, both the Lacrilube and Bacitracin ophthalmic ointments began to vaporize after three laser passes. On the basis of our findings in this study, we recommend guidelines for prudent and safe CO2 laster usage in facial skin resurfacing.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0030611055&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0030611055&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/00006534-199710000-00034
DO - 10.1097/00006534-199710000-00034
M3 - Article
C2 - 9326794
AN - SCOPUS:0030611055
VL - 100
SP - 1285
EP - 1290
JO - Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
JF - Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
SN - 0032-1052
IS - 5
ER -