Question

Which of the following lasers is most commonly used in laryngeal surgery?

• A. CO2 laser
• B. Nd:YAG laser
• C. Argon laser
• D. KTP laser

Hint:

Water absorbs it strongly, so the cut is precise and shallow, perfect for vocal cords.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: The choice of laser in airway surgery depends on its wavelength and how well it is absorbed by tissue water, since this determines cutting precision and depth of thermal damage.

Step 2: The carbon dioxide laser emits at about \(10{,}600\) nm, which is very strongly absorbed by water in soft tissue. This gives a shallow penetration, a fine precise cut and minimal collateral thermal injury, ideal for the delicate vocal cords where preserving normal mucosa matters for the voice.

Step 3: When coupled to the operating microscope and a micromanipulator, the CO2 laser allows accurate phonosurgery, removal of papillomas, early glottic cancers and webs. This precision makes it the standard and most commonly used laser in laryngeal surgery.

Step 4: The Nd:YAG laser penetrates deeply and is better for bulky tracheobronchial debulking, argon is favoured in ophthalmology and vascular lesions, and KTP is used for vascular and some phonosurgical work, but none matches the CO2 laser for routine laryngeal use.

Answer: A. CO2 laser.