Surgical Laser
A surgical laser consists of a beam of coherent monochromatic light with minimal divergence which passes through a silicon or quartz fiber. A diode laser is created by producing charge across two slabs of semi conductor material.
Surgical lasers can cut very precisely leading to increased surgical precision with good haemostasis and less post operative swelling e.g. debulking skin tumours . The power or wattage of the machine can be increased depending on the procedure employed.
Surgical lasers are particularly useful for certain conditions of the upper respiratory tract, the advantages in addition to those listed above being :-
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No skin incision to manage post operatively by owner or trainer
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No general anaesthetic required
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Increased visualisation of surgical field
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Shorter hospital time and convalescence
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Quicker return to work
Procedures which a surgical e.g. diode laser can be employed in the equine upper respiratory tract include :-
c) Pharyngeal cysts
d) Sub epiglottic cysts
e) Vocal cordectomy and ventriculectomy
f) Removal of intralaryngeal granulation tissue
g) Gutteral pouch tympany
h) Gutteral pouch empyaema
Surgical diode lasers may also be used for the removal of intra uterine endometrial cysts.
Complications of laser surgery include collateral thermal damage – scatter and heat transfer to adjacent tissue which is reduced by using the contact method.
