[Morphological examination of the lung tissue ablated with Nd;YAG laser in the treatment of bullous pulmonary disease].

We conducted a morphologic examination of ablated pleurae and bullae to assess the efficacy of Nd;YAG laser irradiation to the lung tissue for the treatment of bullous pulmonary disease. Pleurae and bullae from surgically resected lung tissue to treat pulmonary carcinoma were ablated using a Nd;YAG laser at a power of 10 watts and 1.5 seconds within a 1-centimeter-diameter circle (about 0.2 joule/cm2). Samples were analyzed by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Nd;YAG laser irradiation caused elastic fiber-contraction and gel from collagen both in pleurae irradiated once and in bullae irradiated three times. We conclude that Nd;YAG laser irradiation can be applied to ablate pleurae and bullae into a tight and continuous structure which is important in preventing air leak from the pulmonary parenchyma.