BACKGROUND: The flashlamp-pumped dye laser is considered the treatment of choice for vascular lesions including port-wine stains. However, this treatment is associated with an intensive postoperative purpura and considerable pain. OBJECTIVE: We tested a newly developed laser device with a 532-nm neodymium:YAG laser with variable pulse widths between 2 and 10 ms. METHODS: Forty-two consecutive patients from our laser clinics were treated with the new laser system delivering energy through a chilled tip by means of circulating water (cooling temperature was between 4 and 5.5 degreesC). Forty of them had been pre-treated with an argon laser and an argon-pumped dye laser. RESULTS: Out of the 42 patients, 1 patient had a complete clearing, 11 had an excellent result (more than 80% clearing), 21 patients had a good result (51-75% clearing), weak responses were seen in 9 patients. Significant success was already seen after 1 or 2 treatments. Side effects were rare. There was no purpura after treatment. Local anesthesia was only applied in 6 out of 42 patients. CONCLUSION: The variable pulse width frequency doubled neodymium:YAG laser seems to be an alternative to the flashlamp-pumped dye laser and deserves to be investigated in comparative trials.
BACKGROUND: The flashlamp-pumped dye laser is considered the treatment of choice for vascular lesions including port-wine stains. However, this treatment is associated with an intensive postoperative purpura and considerable pain. OBJECTIVE: We tested a newly developed laser device with a 532-nm neodymium:YAG laser with variable pulse widths between 2 and 10 ms. METHODS: Forty-two consecutive patients from our laser clinics were treated with the new laser system delivering energy through a chilled tip by means of circulating water (cooling temperature was between 4 and 5.5 degreesC). Forty of them had been pre-treated with an argon laser and an argon-pumped dye laser. RESULTS: Out of the 42 patients, 1 patient had a complete clearing, 11 had an excellent result (more than 80% clearing), 21 patients had a good result (51-75% clearing), weak responses were seen in 9 patients. Significant success was already seen after 1 or 2 treatments. Side effects were rare. There was no purpura after treatment. Local anesthesia was only applied in 6 out of 42 patients. CONCLUSION: The variable pulse width frequency doubled neodymium:YAG laser seems to be an alternative to the flashlamp-pumped dye laser and deserves to be investigated in comparative trials.
Authors: Jennifer K Chen; Pedram Ghasri; Guillermo Aguilar; Anne Margreet van Drooge; Albert Wolkerstorfer; Kristen M Kelly; Michal Heger Journal: J Am Acad Dermatol Date: 2012-02-03 Impact factor: 11.527
Authors: Guillermo Aguilar; Bernard Choi; Mans Broekgaarden; Owen Yang; Bruce Yang; Pedram Ghasri; Jennifer K Chen; Rick Bezemer; J Stuart Nelson; Anne Margreet van Drooge; Albert Wolkerstorfer; Kristen M Kelly; Michal Heger Journal: Ann Biomed Eng Date: 2011-10-21 Impact factor: 3.934
Authors: M Ingmar van Raath; Jojanneke E van Amesfoort; Martin Hermann; Yasin Ince; Maurice J Zwart; Agustina V Echague; Yan Chen; Baoyue Ding; Xuan Huang; Gert Storm; Michal Heger Journal: J Clin Transl Res Date: 2019-05-01