[Current potentials and outlook for the use of gas lasers in medicine. Laser surgery].

Gas lasers are now in common use in clinical practice due to such advantages as a wide range of wavelengths, high spatial coherence, diversity of power radiations, and adequate reliability. Continuous CO2 lasers and pulse Cu and CO2 lasers recently produced on the industrial basis offer new opportunities to improve the quality of laser surgical interventions, cutting biological tissues with high blood supply and lower water content (bones, fat, burns, etc.), visceral surgery via endoscopes. Further development of fiberoptic communications with due regard to individual laser spectrum and power is beneficial for expanding the range of medical engineering.