A comparison of complications of laser and cold knife conization
Larsson, G.; Gullberg, B.; Grundsell, H.
Obstetrics and Gynecology 62(2): 213-217
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-7844 PMID: 6408545 Document Number: 211822
A comparison was made of intraoperative and postoperative complications of laser conization and cold knife conization . Of 428 women hospitalized for cold knife conization, 23.6% had 1 or more complications; 14.3% had postoperative hemorrhages, 6.8% had infections and 4.7% suffered from stenosis. Two hundred sixteen women were hospitalized for laser conization; 5.1% of them suffered complications. Postoperative hemorrhages occurred in 2.8% and infections in 2.3%. No case of stenosis occurred. Laser conization as an outpatient procedure was undertaken in 240 women; 4.2% had complications. Postoperative hemorrhages occurred in only 2.5%, infections in 1.3% and stenosis in 0.8%. Laser conization has the same complication rate as laser vaporization and can be safely performed on an outpatient basis, thereby reducing hospital costs.