Comparison of tissue effects with sculptured fiberoptic cables and other Nd:YAG laser and argon laser treatments

The use of a fiber optic cable in contact with tissue results in a complex thermal interaction between the cable and the tissue. The effect of the laser‐tissue interaction was investigated using sculptured quartz fiber optic cables, sapphire contact rods, and bare fiber optic cables attached to the Nd:YAG laser. The laser‐tissue effects of the Nd:YAG and argon lasers were compared. Examination of treated animals showed there to be a significant difference between immediate and 48‐hour thermal effects. The sculptured fibers created significantly less tissue damage than the sapphire contact tips, the 0.6‐mm bare fiber, or the argon laser with a 0.3‐mm bare fiber either with or without contact. All Nd:YAG laser contact treatments were less damaging than the argon laser treatments.