Lasers are another tool available for the general surgeon and safety compliance as enforced by the Laser Safety Officer.
Our experience is described in a five year period (1987-1992) in more than 2000 cases using CO2 and Nd:YAG lasers: quartz sculptured fibers, 600 microns GF and 1000 microns contact were used either hand-held or endoscopically. Listed in Table I.
The surgical procedures included: skin-soft tissue, upper and lower gastrointestinal tract, Liver-Pancreas-Gallbladder, Thyroid, Mediatinum and hernias. These are listed in Tables 2 and 3.
The safety measures and compliance with the individual wavelengths and complications were presented; the most frequent complication was the result of fumes released following “complete”aspiration at the end of endoscopically (Iaparoscopic) procedures either from laser or cautery.