[Largest extension of CO2 laser surgery for laryngeal cancer in experimental animals].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the security and limit resection extension of CO2 laser surgery for laryngeal cancer in experimental animal under self-retaining laryngoscope.

METHODS: Ten experimental dogs were selected and received CO2 laser surgery with self-retaining laryngoscope. Vertical partial or supraglottic horizontal laryngectomy was performed according to the surgical criteria. All the dogs were killed immediately (5/10) or 40 days later(5/10) by using air embolus postoperatively. The whole larynx was taken out, and specimens were embedded with colloidion and then serially sectioned. Dimension of excision and wound surface recovery status were observed.

RESULTS: All the operations on experiment animals were successful and the results were satisfactory. The excision dimension was the same as standard surgery. Gross specimens and serial sectioning staining of 5 dogs were performed. And the other 5 dogs wound surface had already recovered.

CONCLUSIONS: CO2 laser surgery was comparable with traditional vertical partial laryngectomy and supraglottic horizontal laryngectomy for excision size. Animals were able to survive the surgery, wound surface could recover spontaneously. It suggested the possibility of extended laryngectomy with laser.