Clinical use of a 15-W diode laser in small animal surgery: results in 30 varied procedures

摘要

The use of a 15-watt diode laser in 30 surgical procedures in dogs and cats was reviewed. Ease of use, operator safety, hemostasis control, wound healing, surgical time, complication rate, and pain control were observed and recorded. Procedures performed were partial pancreatectomy, nasal carcinoma ablation, medial meniscus channeling, perianal and anorectal mass removal (5), hemangioma and hemangiopericytoma removal from two legs, benign skin mass removal (7), liver lobectomy, partial prostatectomy, soft palate resection, partial arytenoidectomy, partial ablation of a thyroid carcinoma, photo-vaporization of the tumor bed following malignant tumor resection (4), neurosheath tumor removal from the tongue, tail sebaceous cyst resection, malignant mammary tumor and mast cell tumor removal. The laser was found to be very simple and safe to use. Hemostasis was excellent in all but the liver and prostate surgeries. The laser was particularly effective in preventing hemorrhage during perianal, anal, and tongue mass removal. It is estimated that a time and blood loss savings of 50 percent over that of conventional surgery occurred with the use of the laser. All external wounds made by laser appeared to heal faster and with less inflammation than those made with a conventional or electrosurgical scalpel.