Effects of Nd:YAG laser irradiation on morphometry and lung function in elastase-induced emphysema in rats.

Abstract

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE:

Although thoracoscopic laser ablation therapy has been hailed as an effective surgical treatment for diffuse emphysema, no one has as yet made an in-depth study of the efficacy of this treatment. This investigation was undertaken to research the effects of laser pneumoplasty on an animal model of emphysema.

STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Eight weeks after elastase treatment, the rats' left lungs were irradiated using contact Nd:YAG laser. Pulmonary function tests were performed 4 weeks after irradiation and the lungs were prepared for histologic examination.

RESULTS:

Dense fibrous scars beneath the pleura were observed at 4 weeks after irradiation. Although mean linear intercept values of irradiated lungs were not much lower than those in the non-irradiated elastase-treated group, laser irradiation caused a significant decrease in lung volume. While there was no significant difference in quasistatic compliance, elastic recoil pressure of the lung increased to control levels at total lung capacity volume.

CONCLUSION:

We conclude that laser therapy does not cause normalization of compliance, or improvement in the deeper part of the emphysematous lung, but rather a peripheral volume reduction and "encasement effect" on the lungs as a result of fibrotic scars.

• Authors: T Akahane, Y Kurokawa, R Chiba, H Yaegashi, T Takahashi, S Satomi
• Journal: Lasers in surgery and medicine (Lasers Surg Med) Vol. 23 Issue 4 Pg. 204-12 ( 1998) ISSN: 0196-8092 [Print] United States
• PMID: 9829431 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Pancreatic Elastase

Topics

• Analysis of Variance
• Animals
• Disease Models, Animal
• Laser Therapy (methods, statistics & numerical data)
• Lung (pathology, physiopathology, surgery)
• Male
• Pancreatic Elastase
• Pulmonary Emphysema (chemically induced, pathology, physiopathology, surgery)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Respiratory Function Tests (statistics & numerical data)
• Thoracotomy