Krespi Y P, Ling E H
Department of Otolaryngology, St. Luke's/Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York.
J Otolaryngol. 1994 Oct;23(5):325-7.
Laser ablation of the palatine tonsils is a useful alternative to tonsillectomy in adults. Cryptic tonsillitis is a common problem causing recurrent infection, sore throat, and halitosis. Elimination and/or obliteration of surface pockets (crypts) of the palatine tonsils utilizing the CO2 laser was effective in 86 patients treated in the past 4 years. Ablation of the tonsil surface was performed in stages under local anesthesia in an office setting; CO2 laser energy delivered through the "SwiftLase" handpiece extension provided char-free, superficial layer ablation of tissue. "SwiftLase" is easily installed onto existing CO2 laser units and provides high-power densities by utilizing a focused laser beam in an extremely fast uniform scan over an extended area (up to 4 mm) within a fraction of a second. This method and results of its use are discussed.
