Abstract
Since the advent of lasers in clinical medicine, they have become popular in a wide variety of applications. In gynecology, solid lasers such as the Nd-YAG and KTP are in use, while gas lasers such as CO2, and Argon devices are popular.
Recently a combination of the KTP/YAG has become svailable. The advantage of the KTP/YAG devices are the availability of selecting the mode most appropriate for a given procedure, allowing a wider spectrum of precision usage. However, various opinions concerning a comparison of laser devices and cutting current devices in actual surgery have adherents to either one or the other. Since the growing popularity of laparoscopic surgical procedures, the use of laser devices are coming under renewed scrutiny.
The recent increase in interest in the lasers is due to their wide choice of selective distinctive properties. They are also adaptable to small caliber devices allowing wide application in laparoscopic surgical procedures. The decreased smoke evoked during usage when compared with cutting currents make them more acceptable during laparoscopic procedures. Solid lasers such as the Nd-YAG are little affected by liquids making them utile even during concurrent lavage.
The KTP/YAG device has the advantage of containing two separate frequencies which can be used interchangeably depending on the procedure being performed. This device and be adapted to fiber optic applicaton making it possible for small caliber probes with adequate clinical utility. Further, as it incorporates two different modalities in one device, backup apparatuses become less necessary.
I will discuses our experience using the various lasers during laparotomies and laparoscopic procedures, their strong points and weak points and our further expectations concerning the use of these devices.
