Wear of the KTP laser fibers during photoselective vaporization of the prostate
Article published in Urologia Polska 2008/61/Supl. 1.

authors

Waldemar Różański1, Henryk Zieliński2, Leszek Klimek3, Leszek Jeromin1, Marek Lipiński1

II Klinika UM w Łodzi
Klinika Urologiczna WIM w Warszawie
Zakład Biofizyki Katedry Nauk Podstawowych i Przedklinicznych UM w Łodzi

summary

Introduction.

All laser devices used in medicine have a common element. It is a optical fiber, conducting a beam of light from a generator to an organ. At the end the fiber there is a special working attachment or a probe. These are the parts of the laser, that can get partially or completely used up after a single procedure

Objectives.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the degree of wear and tear or the damage to the attachments of KTP lasers, after only one endoscopic urological procedure.

Materials and methods.

For the material we have used 25 optical fibers used to photoselective vaporization of the prostate by potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTPGreen Light) laser. 9 fibres from 80W KTP laser used in 2nd Clinic of Urology Medical University of Łódź and 16 from 120W HPS KTP used in Clinic of Urology Military Medical Institute of Warsaw. The observation and the examination have been carried out using scanning electron microscope Hitachi S 3000N.

Results.

Fiber tips of 80 W KTP as well as 120 W HPSH KTP lasers have the mirror reflecting laser beam to prostate tissue. During work of KTP and HPS lasers changes follows directly on the fiber surface examined the probes and the fiber laser attachments we have observed the partial damage to the cover of the probe or the attachment to the fiber of the laser. These damages already appeared after a single procedure, regardless of the power used during the procedure.

Conclusions.

Wear degree of laser fiber depends on used energy and procedure duration. Because of the damages to the probes or the attachments after each single

procedure change of the properties of the laser beam, as well as the effectiveness of the laser should be considered.