The benefit of the CO2 laser systems to the head and neck surgeon has been well established in the management of early glottic, supraglottic, oral and oropharyngeal, and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.  Advantages of the CO2 laser include accuracy, predictability, and limited transmission of energy to adjacent tissues.  The goal of therapy is to eliminate the cancer and preserve as much of the function of the larynx (speaking, breathing, and swallowing) as possible.

In the transoral approach to CO2 laser procedures in head and neck surgical oncology, patient exposure may be difficult and limit the use of traditional CO2 laser systems. Surgical oncology principles, such as en-bloc tumor resections may be violated due to the limitations of the micro-manipulator, requiring a segmented tumor resection. Other fiber based lasers result in less control of energy dispersion to adjacent tissues.

The OmniGuide BeamPath CO2 laser fiber is ideally suited for trans-oral laryngeal resections:

• Utilizes the ‘gold standard’ energy source – CO2 laser energy
• Minimal thermal spread and collateral tissues damage
• The BeamPath fiber allows for more control for side cuts and back cuts; enables an en-bloc resection
• Re-adjusting the microscope is not necessary for different CO2 laser cutting angles
• Allows for a more intuitive resection providing the surgeon with a hand-held instrument

In some cancer centers, the use of the OmniGuide BeamPath CO2 laser fiber is routine for:

• Supraglottic laryngectomy (removes all the structures above the vocal cords)
• Hemilaryngectomy (remove one side of the larynx only)
• Base of tongue tumor resection