Comparative study of acute tissue damage induced by the CO2 laser versus microelectrodes in cordectomies

OBJECTIVE: This study compared the acute tissue damage produced by a CO2 laser and microelectrodes in samples of vocal cords from patients undergoing laryngeal endoscopic surgery for stage T1 squamous cell carcinoma. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Based on prior surgical experience with the CO2 laser and microelectrodes, the study protocol used hematoxylin-eosin staining of vocal cords treated with a CO2 laser (n=20) or microelectrode (n=20). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The acute tissue damage produced by the CO2 laser was similar to that induced by microelectrodes in cutting mode. The tissue damage resulting from the use of the microelectrode in coagulation mode was comparatively greater.