PURPOSE: To examine the efficacy and reproducibility of CO₂ laser soldering of corneal cuts using real-time infrared fiber-optic radiometric control of tissue temperature in bovine eyes (in vitro) and to evaluate the duration of this procedure in rabbit eyes (in vivo). METHODS: In vitro experiment: a 6-mm central perforating cut was induced in 40 fresh bovine eyes and sealed with a CO₂ laser, with or without albumin soldering, following placement of a single approximating nylon suture. A fiber-optic radiometric temperature control system for the CO₂ laser was used. Leaking pressure and histological findings were analyzed and compared between groups. In vivo experiment: following creation of a central perforation, 6 rabbit eyes were treated with a CO₂ laser with albumin solder and 6 rabbit eyes were treated with 10-0 nylon sutures. The amount of time needed for completion of the procedures was compared. RESULTS: In vitro experiment: effective sealing was achieved by CO₂ laser soldering. Mean (± SD) leaking pressure was 109 ± 30 mm Hg in the bovine corneas treated by the laser with albumin solder compared to 51 ± 7 mm Hg in the sutured control eyes (n = 10 each; p < 0.001). Mean leaking pressures were much lower in the corneal cuts sealed only with the laser without albumin solder (48 ± 12 mm Hg) and in the cuts sealed only with albumin without laser welding (6.3 ± 4 mm Hg) than in the cuts treated with laser welding and albumin solder. In vivo experiment: mean surgical time was 140 ± 17 s in the laser-treated rabbits compared to 330 ± 30 s in the sutured controls (n = 6; p < 0.001). A histopathological study of the rabbit corneas 1 day after laser soldering revealed sealed corneal edges with a small gap bridged by coagulated albumin. The inflammatory reaction was minimal in contrast to the sutured controls. No thermal damage was detected at the wound edges. CONCLUSIONS: CO₂ laser soldering combined with the fiber-optic radiometer is an effective, reliable, and rapid tool for the closure of corneal wounds, and holds advantages over conventional suturing in terms of leaking pressure and surgical time.
PURPOSE: To examine the efficacy and reproducibility of CO₂ laser soldering of corneal cuts using real-time infrared fiber-optic radiometric control of tissue temperature in bovine eyes (in vitro) and to evaluate the duration of this procedure in rabbit eyes (in vivo). METHODS: In vitro experiment: a 6-mm central perforating cut was induced in 40 fresh bovine eyes and sealed with a CO₂ laser, with or without albumin soldering, following placement of a single approximating nylon suture. A fiber-optic radiometric temperature control system for the CO₂ laser was used. Leaking pressure and histological findings were analyzed and compared between groups. In vivo experiment: following creation of a central perforation, 6 rabbit eyes were treated with a CO₂ laser with albumin solder and 6 rabbit eyes were treated with 10-0 nylon sutures. The amount of time needed for completion of the procedures was compared. RESULTS: In vitro experiment: effective sealing was achieved by CO₂ laser soldering. Mean (± SD) leaking pressure was 109 ± 30 mm Hg in the bovine corneas treated by the laser with albumin solder compared to 51 ± 7 mm Hg in the sutured control eyes (n = 10 each; p < 0.001). Mean leaking pressures were much lower in the corneal cuts sealed only with the laser without albumin solder (48 ± 12 mm Hg) and in the cuts sealed only with albumin without laser welding (6.3 ± 4 mm Hg) than in the cuts treated with laser welding and albumin solder. In vivo experiment: mean surgical time was 140 ± 17 s in the laser-treated rabbits compared to 330 ± 30 s in the sutured controls (n = 6; p < 0.001). A histopathological study of the rabbit corneas 1 day after laser soldering revealed sealed corneal edges with a small gap bridged by coagulated albumin. The inflammatory reaction was minimal in contrast to the sutured controls. No thermal damage was detected at the wound edges. CONCLUSIONS: CO₂ laser soldering combined with the fiber-optic radiometer is an effective, reliable, and rapid tool for the closure of corneal wounds, and holds advantages over conventional suturing in terms of leaking pressure and surgical time.
Authors: Alexander Yu Gerasimenko; Elena A Morozova; Dmitry I Ryabkin; Alexey Fayzullin; Svetlana V Tarasenko; Victoria V Molodykh; Evgeny S Pyankov; Mikhail S Savelyev; Elena A Sorokina; Alexander Y Rogalsky; Anatoly Shekhter; Dmitry V Telyshev Journal: Bioengineering (Basel) Date: 2022-05-29