[Possibilities for the us of laser surgery in veterinary medicine. Part 2: Effects of laser beams on tissue].

The effect of a certain laser beam on tissue is dependent on the different properties of the tissue. The various kinds of laser radiation are absorbed from different components of an organ. Only where absorption takes place there will be a transformation of the energy of radiation to other forms of energy and changes in tissue will occur. The arising thermal energy not only heats the area exposed to the laser beam but the surrounding tissue. The extent of the heating effect on tissue is due to properties of the tissue, e.g. the degree of blood supply and with it the draining of heat, and the parameters of the laser system, e.g. time of exposition and power of radiation. By increasing power of radiation the effect will be an unspecific heat stimulation, coagulation of tissue up to vaporization of tissue. By using different ways of transmission the effects produced by laser will change and can be adapted to various medical and anatomical requirements.