INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SURGERY and AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY
Volume 5, Number 2, 2003
© Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
Chilled Air Beam Cooling in Laser Therapy:
A Preliminary Clinical Report
SUKHDAYAL S. SETHI, M.S., M.Ch., F.I.C.S., SANJAY SARAF, M.S., M.Ch., D.N.B.,
and CHARANJIV CHABRA, D.V.D., D.N.B.
ABSTRACT
The clinical objective in the treatment of various dermatological and allied conditions with
lasers is to maximize thermal damage to the target, while minimizing nonspecific injury to
the normal epidermal–dermal tissues. Although many techniques have been tried for cool-
ing, none has proven entirely satisfactory. We present our preliminary clinical study in 210
patients utilizing chilled air beam cooling, which has shown encouraging results.
ious dermatological and allied conditions. The
age group ranged from 16 to 60 years.
The CABC was delivered through a 2 cm di-
ameter tube using a cold air machine with a
cold compressor.
More than 75% of the procedures were car-
ried out by computerized control of the airflow
and temperature set between 1° and 4°C on the
control panel indicating speed and tempera-
ture. In the remaining procedures, an electronic
device was used. In the remaining procedures,
an electronic device was used to control the
flow and temperature of the air.
INTRODUCTION
ITH THE AVAILABILITY of a large variety of
lasers today, it has become very impor-
tant to understand clearly the indications and
potential complications of lasers.
W
Understanding thermally induced damage to
the epidermis and papillary dermis is an
important aspect of preventing complications.
The ideal laser treatment should cause irre-
versible injury to the identified target, sparing the
overlying epidermis.(1) However, absorption by
epidermal melanin and conducted heat from the
dermal targets often lead to unwarranted injury.
Various cooling techniques such as cooling
with ice or chilled water,(2,3) cryogen spray,(4–6)
and cold hand pieces have been described. We
have used the chilled air beam cooling (CABC)
technique to minimize unwanted injury to the
surrounding tissues.
RESULTS
It was observed that the laser without cool-
ing produced unbearable burning pain. When
the laser was used with the CABC, the proce-
dure became virtually pain-free and in fact had
a soothing effect. A significant reduction in the
level of pain and discomfort was noted. At the
same time, higher energy levels could be de-
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Since November 2000 we have used CABC livered to the target (Table 2).
in 210 patients (Table 1) of both genders for var-
In the removal of unwanted hair follicular
Private practice, New Delhi, India.
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