[Use of CO2 lasers in the surgical treatment of suppurative wounds of soft tissues].

Treatment of a purulent wound by means of a 400-500 J/cm2 power density CO2-laser after preliminary ordinary debridement improves the results of the last-named by reducing the level of microbial dissemination in the tissues to minimum (10(1) microbial bodies per 1 g tissue). This improves the conditions for the development of the wound process and leads to sharp shortening of the duration of its phases and wider indications for the application of primary and primary-postponed sutures to the purulent wound. If primary sutures cannot be applied in the first postoperative days due to unfavourable conditions, open management of the wound is indicated to prepare it for application of primary-postponed sutures. Closure of a purulent wound with primary-postponed sutures after its treatment with a CO2-laser creates favourable conditions for its healing by first intention.