The aim of this study was to analyze the healing effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on the longitudinal sternotomy incisions of patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). The volunteers were randomized into three groups of equal size (n = 30): control, placebo, and laser (λ = 660 nm and spatial average energy fluency [SAEF] = 1.06 J/cm2). The patients in the laser group underwent irradiation on postoperative days 2, 4, 6, and 8, and their sternotomy incisions were photographed immediately after the surgery and 8 days later for analysis. Three researchers who were blinded to the patient treatment groups analyzed the incision photographs to assess hyperemia and wound closure on the day of hospital discharge (eighth postoperative day). The sternotomy incisions in the LLLT group demonstrated less hyperemia, incisional bleeding, and dehiscence (p ≤ 0.005).
Keywords: Coronary artery bypass graft; Incision healing; Low-intensity laser therapy; Sternotomy.