Surgical applications of lasers

Because of an ability to coagulate, ablate, or vaporize tissue, argon, CO2, and Nd:YAG lasers have been employed extensively in surgery. The capability of transmitting argon and neodymium YAG energy through a flexible fiber which may be inserted in a fiberoptic instrument allows the application of the laser in a number of anatomic areas without the need for an incision. Extensive application has been made in utilizing laser techniques in treating lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, skin, central nervous system, bladder and urethra, spine, joints, ear, nose and throat, and in general surgery to provide control of bleeding. Surgical advances in the application of lasers would be assisted by engineering developments such as a tuneable laser, a flexible carbon dioxide transmission fiber, miniaturization, reduction in cost, improvement in cooling systems, and portability of the laser surgical instrument.