Laser Ablation Treatment

It's never good to hear your doctor say you need something removed. But if he goes on to say the procedure will use a laser, that could soften the blow. Laser ablation treatment has become a popular choice for treating a broad range of illnesses. Doctors appreciate the precision control a laser provides, while patients benefit from less blood loss and faster recovery times than with traditional surgical techniques.

Definition

• In surgery, ablation means the removal of any part of the body. Laser ablation involves vaporizing organic tissue. The procedure usually aims to relieve an obstruction or destroy malignant (harmful) tissue.

Technique

• Laser ablation replaces the surgeon's scalpel and other tools with a focused beam of light. By modifying the depth and intensity of the laser light, the surgeon pinpoints the area of surgery, and controls how much tissue is removed. Organic tissue can reflect laser light, absorb it, or let it pass through. Laser surgery depends on understanding how a targeted tissue will respond to the laser.

Types

• Surgeons currently perform a large number of ablations. These include treatment for damaged blood vessels, varicose veins and certain kinds of cancerous tumors. Laser ablations can smooth the cornea of the eye and may be used to improve vision. Some laser techniques can relieve airway obstructions, allowing patients with cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, esophageal cancer and other conditions to breathe more easily.

Benefits for the Surgeon

• The laser gives the surgeon a precision tool that can be guided by hand or with a computer. It can treat extremely small areas, including tumors or lesions that can only be seen with a microscope. The surgeon has a clear view of the area to be operated on, since no instruments block the view.

Benefits for the Patient

• Laser surgery generally involves less bleeding than traditional surgery. The laser seals small blood vessels, preventing added blood loss. Similarly, the sealing of nerve ends by the laser often leads to less pain after an operation. In addition, laser ablations may sometimes be performed without large incisions, by using optical fibers to transmit the laser beam. Procedures may also have a lower risk of infection, since the laser equipment never directly touches the patient. A study of liver cancer patients found a higher survival rate in patients who had laser ablation of their tumors compared to traditional surgery.

Cautions

• Complications for laser surgery can include damage to the skin, nerves or blood vessels. Be sure to understand the full risks and benefits before agreeing to any procedure.