Laser photocoagulation for gastrointestinal bleeding.

Endoscopic laser photocoagulation is one of the exciting developments in the field of gastrointestinal endoscopic therapy. However, much work needs to be done before these techniques should be allowed to proliferate into widespread use. There are few controlled randomized clinical studies evaluating any endoscopic treatment of bleeding, including argon laser and Nd:YAG laser photocoagulation. Despite this, uncontrolled clinical trials of both argon and Nd:YAG laser photocoagulation have begun. Laser photocoagulation of bleeding upper gastrointestinal lesions should be considered a procedure in an experimental stage of development, to be performed only under protocol studies at endoscopic research centres. Only after this or any other haemostatic technique has been proven effective and safe in thorough animal trials and then in controlled clinical trial should it be considered ready for general clinical use.