Background and objectives: The smaller anatomy and limited access to instrumentation pose a challenge to the pediatric airway surgeon. The enhanced precision and ability to photocoagulate tissue while operating with the laser enhances the surgeon's ability to successfully treat unique pediatric conditions.
Study design/materials and methods: A comprehensive literature review was performed using the Medline (1995-2004) database.
Results: Due to its shallow tissue penetration and thermal effect, the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser is generally considered the laser of choice for pediatric airway applications. The potential for increased scarring and damage to underlying tissue caused by the greater penetration depth and thermal effect of the Nd:YAG and potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) lasers preclude their widespread use in this population.
Conclusions: In this review, we will discuss the clinical applications of lasers in pediatric airway surgery, the current state of the art, where the current technology is deficient, and the potential applications of novel laser systems.