Electrosurgical endoscopic cordectomy with microdissection electrodes: a comparative study with CO₂ laser

Abstract

Microdissection electrodes (MEs) have previously been used to perform endoscopic cordectomies. We designed a prospective study in order to compare the ME with the CO2 laser technique. Over two years, 20 patients with T1 glottic carcinoma were operated on with CO2 laser and 20 with MEs. The device was chosen alternatively for each new patient. Two patients in both treatment groups had slight glottic incompetence. Three patients in each group showed web formation. The only granuloma was observed in a CO2 laser patient. Seven of the ME patients developed slight dysphonia, 10 developed medium grade dysphonia and three developed severe dysphonia. Seven of the CO2 laser patients developed slight dysphonia, seven developed medium grade dysphonia and six developed severe dysphonia. No statistically significant differences were observed on comparing the grade of dysphonia with patient age, T stage, type of cordectomy or surgical device. We consider the ME to be a useful and inexpensive alternative to CO2 laser.

A New Device for Treating Laryngeal Carcinoma Using Microdissection Electrodes

“…For the last 3 years, we have been using microelectrodes (ME) for endoscopic electrosurgery to resect T1 tumors of the vocal cords. A first report presented early results of this surgical technique 1 . Our experience has been extremely satisfactory and has been widened to include a greater number of cases and more advanced tumors.…”

A Hypopharyngeal Ductal Cyst Masquerading as a Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease

“…Microelectrodes are useful for resecting larygopharyngeal masses with excellent hemostasis [6]. The tissue damage is no greater than with CO2 laser injury [7]. …”

Endoscopic Posterior Cordotomy with Microdissection Radiofrequency Electrodes for Bilateral Vocal Cord Paralysis

“…cordotomy using microelectrodes is a safe and simple procedure, having a shorter overall surgical time, improved hemostasis, and easier handling than laser. 3 Furthermore, the risk of airway fire is a life-threatening issue for laser surgery. However, airway fire has not been reported so far for procedures done with microdissection electrodes.…”

“…However, airway fire has not been reported so far for procedures done with microdissection electrodes. 3 The senior author (C x.O.) has performed more than 50 airway procedures in the past years and not encountered such a complication.…”