TY - JOUR
T1 - Laser or electrocautery for laparoscopic cholecystectomy?
AU - Hunter, John G.
PY - 1991/3
Y1 - 1991/3
N2 - There are few concerns related to laparoscopic cholecystectomy that evoke as much emotion as the question of which is the superior energy source, laser or electrocautery. Monopolar radio frequency electricity (electrosurgery) and collimated coherent light (laser) injure tissue by the generation of heat, and in this regard are remarkably similar. The greatest differences between these sources of heat are related to predictability of injury, selective absorption of free beam laser energy, ability to coagulate, and cost. Although there are no prospective data yet available to answer the question of superiority, it appears that electrosurgical dissection may be faster and is generally less costly. Laser dissection may be more precise. In difficult cases, hemostasis appears to be superior with electrosurgery.
AB - There are few concerns related to laparoscopic cholecystectomy that evoke as much emotion as the question of which is the superior energy source, laser or electrocautery. Monopolar radio frequency electricity (electrosurgery) and collimated coherent light (laser) injure tissue by the generation of heat, and in this regard are remarkably similar. The greatest differences between these sources of heat are related to predictability of injury, selective absorption of free beam laser energy, ability to coagulate, and cost. Although there are no prospective data yet available to answer the question of superiority, it appears that electrosurgical dissection may be faster and is generally less costly. Laser dissection may be more precise. In difficult cases, hemostasis appears to be superior with electrosurgery.
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U2 - 10.1016/0002-9610(91)90595-5
DO - 10.1016/0002-9610(91)90595-5
M3 - Article
C2 - 1825755
AN - SCOPUS:0026016431
SN - 0002-9610
VL - 161
SP - 345
EP - 349
JO - The American Journal of Surgery
JF - The American Journal of Surgery
IS - 3
ER -