Microscopic and endoscopic laser surgery.

Lasers have been found to be very practical in improving precision in microsurgery and endoscopic surgery. An optical system by which the tissue and the interacting laser beam can be observed simultaneously under binocular magnification makes possible precise control of the laser beam. The carbon dioxide laser and the neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser are both used in laser surgery--the CO2 laser is preferred for cutting and ablating tissues, and the Nd:YAG for coagulation and hemostasis of bleeding blood vessels. Future laser surgical instrumentation will take advantage of the digital information provided by computerized diagnostic equipment to drive a computer-compatible laser surgical system.