Possible hazards from irradiation with the carbon dioxide laser

Abstract

Previous investigators, using relatively high irradiance levels, have been unable to demonstrate viable tissue in the plume during carbon dioxide laser vaporization. Our study was undertaken to reinvestigate this possibility, particularly at the lower irradiance levels that are currently in clinical use. Fresh post-mortem skin was injected with a known quantity of bacterial spores and vaporized at different levels of irradiance and energy fluence. The plume and splatter were collected and cultured. Spores were found following the vaporization of five of 13 specimens treated at an irradiance of less than 500 W/cm2, while there were none in the 20 specimens treated at an irradiance of greater than 997 W/cm2. These results show that the widely accepted assumption that the carbon dioxide laser produces a sterile field may be false and that viable particles may be disseminated during vaporization at low irradiance. This may be important when considering the treatment of potentially infectious lesions.