Nathali Cordeiro Pinto1, Fernando Campos Gomes Pinto2, Eduardo Joaquim Lopes Alho3, Elisabeth Matheus Yoshimura4, Vera Lucia Jornada Krebs5, Manoel Jacobsen Teixeira6, Maria Cristina Chavantes7. 1. Faculdade de medicina, Instituto do Coração Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. 2. da Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. 3. Universidade de Würzburg, Germany. 4. Nuclear and Physical Department, Instituto de Física, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. 5. Instituto da Criança do Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. 6. Division of Neurosurgery at Neurology Department, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. 7. Medical Laser Center, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the tissue repair behavior after corrective surgical incision in neonates submitted to low-level laser therapy, in an attempt to diminish the incidence of postoperative dehiscence following the surgery for myelomeningocele performed immediately after birth. METHODS: It is a prospective pilot study with 13 myelomeningocele patients submitted to surgery at birth who received adjuvant treatment with low-level laser therapy (Group A). Diode laser C.W., λ = 685t nm, p = 21 mW, E = 0.19 J was punctually applied along the surgical incision, summing up 4 to 10 J energy delivered per patient, according to the surgical wound area and, then, compared with the previous results, which were obtained from 23 patients undergoing surgery without laser therapy (Group B). RESULTS: This pilot study showed a significant decline in dehiscence of surgical wounds in neonates submitted to low-level laser therapy as compared to controls (7.69 versus 17.39%, respectively), demonstrating this is an effective, safe and noninvasive treatment method. CONCLUSION: This new adjuvant therapeutic proposal with low-level laser therapy aided healing of surgical wounds, preventing morbidities, as well as decreasing hospital stay, which implies cost of reduction for patients and for the institution.
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the tissue repair behavior after corrective surgical incision in neonates submitted to low-level laser therapy, in an attempt to diminish the incidence of postoperative dehiscence following the surgery for myelomeningocele performed immediately after birth. METHODS: It is a prospective pilot study with 13 myelomeningocele patients submitted to surgery at birth who received adjuvant treatment with low-level laser therapy (Group A). Diode laser C.W., λ = 685t nm, p = 21 mW, E = 0.19 J was punctually applied along the surgical incision, summing up 4 to 10 J energy delivered per patient, according to the surgical wound area and, then, compared with the previous results, which were obtained from 23 patients undergoing surgery without laser therapy (Group B). RESULTS: This pilot study showed a significant decline in dehiscence of surgical wounds in neonates submitted to low-level laser therapy as compared to controls (7.69 versus 17.39%, respectively), demonstrating this is an effective, safe and noninvasive treatment method. CONCLUSION: This new adjuvant therapeutic proposal with low-level laser therapy aided healing of surgical wounds, preventing morbidities, as well as decreasing hospital stay, which implies cost of reduction for patients and for the institution.