Review Article

The carbon dioxide laser scalpel

E. J. Durante
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association | Vol 62, No 4 | a2083 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/jsava.v62i4.2083 | © 2020 E. J. Durante | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 30 April 2020 | Published: 31 December 1991

About the author(s)

E. J. Durante, Department of Companion Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Medical University of Southern Africa, South Africa

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Abstract

The CO₂-laser is currently used as a scalpel by a large number of medical surgeons, but in the field of veterinary surgery, relatively little has been published on the subject. A review of the origin of medical lasers, the basic physics of laser energy production and the characteristics of laser light was therefore considered necessary. This review includes a discussion on how the optical radiation generated by the different lasers is absorbed, the cutting power of the CO₂-laser, and the effect on healing, tensile strength and haemostasis when used in the skin, linea alba and gastrointestinal tract.

Keywords

CO2-laser; physics; absorption; veterinary surgery; healing; tensile strength; haemostasis

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Crossref Citations

1. Lasers in Veterinary Dermatology
David Duclos
Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice  vol: 36  issue: 1  first page: 15  year: 2006  
doi: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2005.10.001