Recent Application of LASER in Neurosurgery

Abstract

Neurosurgery deals with diseases of the central nervous system. Surgery of brain is very difficult, since extremely localized operations are necessary due to the complicated structure and fragility of the brain. The application of lasers in neurosurgery has been extremely slow compared with other medical fields. This was mainly due to two reasons. First, the ruby laser was not of great help in neurosurgery. Second, initial experiments with the CO2 laser were performed at too high energy levels. It then took some time interest in neurosurgical lasers, especially moderate CO2 lasers and Nd: YAG lasers. The principal advantages of lasers in neurosurgery are evident. Lasers are able to cut, vaporize, and coagulate tissue without mechanical contact. This is of great significance when dealing with very sensitive tissues. Simultaneous coagulation of blood vessels eliminates dangerous hemorrhages which are extremely life-threatening when occurring inside the brain. Moreover, the area of operation is sterilized as lasing takes place, thereby reducing the probability of potential infections. Because Surgery of brain is very sensitive and lasers have interest application in neurosurgery, so the aim of this study was evaluate the recent and important application of some type of laser such as CO₂, Nd: YAG, Holmium, Argon and etc in neurosurgery.