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Any surgical procedure can be performed using lasers.
General surgeons use a variety of laser wavelengths and laser delivery systems
to cut, coagulate, vaporize or remove tissue. The majority of "laser surgeries"
actually use the laser device in place of other tools such as scalpels,
electrosurgical units, cryosurgery probes or microwave devices to accomplish a
standard procedure like mastectomy (i.e. breast surgery) or cholecystectomy
(i.e. surgical removal of the gallbladder). Lasers allow the surgeon to
accomplish more complex tasks, reduce blood loss, decrease postoperative
discomfort, reduce the chance of wound infection, decrease the spread of some
cancers, minimize the extent of surgery in selected circumstances and result in
better wound healing, if they are used appropriately by a skilled and properly
trained surgeon. They are useful in both open and laparoscopic procedures.
Common surgical uses include breast surgery, removal of the gallbladder, hernia
repair, bowel resection, hemorrhoidectomy, solid organ surgery, and treatment of
pilonidal cyst.
(Updated: October 1, 2007)
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