Urologic experience with the CO₂ laser

Current biomedical engineering technology is advancing rapidly to deliver CO₂ laser therapy via conventional transurethral endoscopic ins trumentation. With the advent of fiberoptic waveguides urologists may soon have transurethral access to treating urethral strictures, bladder neck contractures, and bladder tumors with the CO₂ laser. Until now these procedures have been limited to the Argon and Neodymium : YAG lasers which c an be transmi tted through a flexible quartz fiber light guide in a liquid medium. Most CO₂ laser surgery in the United States today is limited to two types of delivery systems : the operating microscope or the hand held laser surgical scalpel. Although laser surgery has developed rapidly in the fields of ophthalmology, otolaryngology, and gynecology, its progress in urology has been limited to only a few centers in the United States.