Why use a diode laser in surgery?
The growing success of diode laser surgery is related to its particular ability to cut selectively and microscopically photocoagulate tissues without any electrical contact with the patient.
In pulsed emission, the fiber-optic diode laser vaporizes benign superficial lesions without anaesthesia or stitches.
The surgical field is bloodless and sterile for the immediate coagulation of the haemolymph vessels; the micro-burn is painless, so healing is short with better aesthetic-functional cicatrization.
Depending on the wavelength and power used, three different modes can be applied: no contact, contact and interstitial (endolumenal).
- The no contact mode take advantage of the selective chromophoric photolysis (water, haemoglobin and melanin) present at the specific wavelengths of the different diodes to create a selective thermal effect based on the amount of chromophore present on the tissue (coagulation, ablation).
- At the correct fluencies the contact mode optimizes the photothermal effect on the fiber tip in contact with the different tissues. Various effects (cauterization, vaporisation, coagulation, cutting) can be obtained based on the characteristics of the individual tissue (i.e. vascularization).
- The interstitial mode, which is particularly important for the photothermal ablation of the primitive lesions, allows interstitial ablation that is visible in ultrasound imaging. The effect in the endoluminal treatment of varicose veins is similar.
In which areas of surgery is it used?
The surgical applications in various surgeries are well known and are now irreplaceable: oculoplastic, neurosurgery, otorhinolaryngology, gynaecology, dermatology, vascular, general, plastic, urology, endoscopy, oncology.
