The use of laser in neurosurgery.

In the neurosurgical practice the laser can be considered an additional instrument to improve the conventional techniques, or even a new method of treatment of some cerebral lesions. The laser surgery requires the association of three laser sources in combination. The CO2 offers the possibility of a precise cutting and of shrinking by vaporization which makes the removal of the lesion more complete without touching the surrounding areas. Nd:YAG is particularly suitable for tumor surgery allowing a deeper destruction with predictable effects associated with a more complete hemostasis. The combination Nd:YAG-Argon has clear indications for coagulation. The laser is very useful in high risk cases and in combination with the operating microscope in a restricted field near the critical areas of the brain and in the spinal cord. The association Argon-Nd: YAG is a new method for coagulation. In all cases of AAV malformation a complete exclusion was obtained and in 2 cases out of 7 reduced damage were registered. In saccular aneurysm in no case additional damage was registered, reduced damage was noticed in 2 out of 5 cases.