Laser applications in surgery

Abstract

In modern medicine, lasers are increasingly utilized for treatment of a variety of pathologies as interest in less invasive treatment modalities intensifies. The physics behind lasers allows the same basic principles to be applied to a multitude of tissue types using slight modifications of the system. Multiple laser systems have been studied within each field of medicine. The term "laser" was combined with "surgery," "ablation," "lithotripsy," "cancer treatment," "tumor ablation," "dermatology," "skin rejuvenation," "lipolysis," "cardiology," "atrial fibrillation (AF)," and "epilepsy" during separate searches in the PubMed database. Original articles that studied the application of laser energy for these conditions were reviewed and included. A review of laser therapy is presented.Laser energy can be safely and effectively used for lithotripsy, for the treatment of various types of cancer, for a multitude of cosmetic and reconstructive procedures, and for the ablation of abnormal conductive pathways. For each of these conditions, management with lasers is comparable to, and potentially superior to, management with more traditional methods.

Bioheat Equation With Fourier and Non-Fourier Heat Transport Laws: Applicability to Heat Transfer in Human Tissues

“…The multilayer models of human skin have been developed for the LLL treatment [5][6][7]. Similar approaches have been proposed in dentistry [8] and general surgery [9]. Such modeling is based on the heat generation and propagation in the biological tissues due to the photoinduced biochemical reactions and the correspondent variations in the local blood microcirculation.…”

Spatial effect of conical angle on optical-thermal distribution for circumferential photocoagulation

“…For decades, laser systems have widely been developed for medical applications such as tumor ablation, blood coagulation, cancer treatment, surgical resection, and optical imaging [1][2][3]. However, these applications have often been limited by short optical penetration depths due to the intrinsic turbidity of biological tissue.…”

Back to Basics: Laser Safety

“…Since that time, lasers have become more complex and have many medical and surgical uses. One component of a simple laser is the laser medium —the atoms of one or more elements that are stimulated and determine the laser's wavelength . Scientists name a laser based on its medium (eg, argon, Nd:YAG, diode) .…”

“…Surgeons use several different types of lasers in surgery, including Nd:YAG, erbium:YAG, holium:YAG, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), diode, and argon . Physicians and surgeons in a variety of specialties (eg, urology, oncology, cardiology, neurology, ophthalmology, dermatology) use lasers during procedures.…”

“…Physicians and surgeons in a variety of specialties (eg, urology, oncology, cardiology, neurology, ophthalmology, dermatology) use lasers during procedures. Technological advancements related to laser use during minimally invasive procedures have led to improved patient outcomes and shorter recuperation times . As laser technology continues to evolve, the number of procedures for which lasers may be used should increase, offering surgeons new ways to perform these procedures with safer patient outcomes …”