What’s New?
This article ‘New Surgical Procedure Could Save Millions’ discusses a procedure that was effectively used to remove growths (papilloma) from the airway of a patient using a combination of the newly developed carbon dioxide (CO2) laser and pulsed-dye laser technologies. The CO2 laser is delivered by a recently developed “hollow-core optical fiber,” while the pulsed-dye laser is delivered to the affected parts by a “standard solid optical fiber” (WUBMC para. 3).
The two lasers are accurately guided by an advanced video endoscope that is intricately attached to the other gadgets and delivered to the patient through a miniature tube positioned in the nose. The two lasers work complimentarily, with the CO2 laser first eliminating the growths in the voice box and trachea before the pulsed-dye laser is utilized to treat the base of the growths to curtail future recurrence.
The new procedure has a lot of benefits since patients will not only be able to save money and time but will be guaranteed superior outcomes and high satisfaction levels (WUBMC para. 1). Patients will neither be required to be put under general anesthesia nor book hospital beds since the new procedure can be done when the patient is completely awake, not to mention the fact that he or she is immediately allowed to go home once the procedure is successfully completed. This implies that the procedure is less risky and has positive outcomes in the treatment of respiratory papillomas – a condition that could be potentially fatal if left untreated.
The Old Way
The old procedure of removing the growths required equipment that could not be used outside the operating room, not to mention the fact that patients were required to be put under general anesthesia (WUBMC para. 2). This implies that not only was the procedure painful, but also the patient was obliged to spend some time in hospital. This information further demonstrates that the old procedure had obvious cost and time implications, and was also generally uncomfortable to the patient.
Where are we going?
The development of the new technology and its successful testing at Wake Forest University Baptist Center by Professor Jamie Koufman reveals a new dimension in the treatment of respiratory papillomas that can be fatal if left untreated. There are many other infections that affect the respiratory tract system and which could immensely benefit from the achievements of the new procedure. Indeed, “…the same approach will work for 50 to 70 percent of all laryngeal surgeries, including the removal of vocal nodules, polyps, cysts, granulomas, and even vascular lesions” (WUBMC para. 8). What’s more, the laser surgery technique may eventually become the preferred method of treating laryngeal cancer.
As such, many patients are bound to save a lot of time and money as the new technology firmly begins to take route, and analysts are of the opinion that the technology will indeed revolutionize the endoscopy field.
The beauty of it all is the fact that patients will no longer require to be sedated or be wheeled to operating rooms due to the in-office surgical capabilities extended by this technology (WUBMC para. 14). This will definitely improve the quality of life of patients while making sure that their pockets are not drained by huge medical bills that are characteristic of the old procedure. Surely, the future is bright for patients suffering from growths of the respiratory tract.
Where the Article was found
The article was downloaded from Science Daily, and a URL link has been provided for easy access. Also, the article will be attached for your review.
Works Cited
Wake University Baptist Medical Center. New Surgical Procedure could Save Millions. Science Daily. (2005). Web.