Laser surgery is the most talked about surgery procedure nowadays. It’s definitely the most advanced surgery available, but is it really the best one? Let’s explore this a little further in this article. But, before that, we need to understand what laser surgery actually is.
What is laser surgery?
LASER stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation which means that this technology uses a concentrated light source. A laser beam when focussed onto a diseased tissue, causes the cells in it to burst.
Laser treatment is used for many purposes in the medical field. It extensively used to treat cancers, in dental treatments and also, in cosmetic treatments like hair removal, tattoo removal etc. Laser surgery is a popular choice these days.
In fact, globally, the revenues earned by laser technology developing companies for medical and aesthetic uses, stood at a whopping $1.2 bn in 2019 and the revenues are set to grow further in 2020. This proves how acceptable laser technology has become in the field of medicine.
In this article, let’s explore the effectiveness of laser technology in general surgery.
Laser technology for general surgery
General surgery refers to the surgical procedures performed specifically in the abdominal cavity. The most common ones are surgeries done to treat piles, hernia, appendicitis, gall bladder stones etc. All of them require the abdominal cavity to be opened in order to perform the surgery.
In a traditional surgery, the cuts are made using scalpels. The repairs done inside the abdominal cavity also are done using scalpels and knives. While in a laser surgery, the cuts are made using a laser beam.
The cuts made using a laser beam do not cause much bleeding as compared to the cuts made by scalpels. Hence, they are sometimes called ‘bloodless surgeries’.
Hence, one clear advantage of laser surgery is smaller incision, lesser blood loss which also means lesser chances of infection and faster recovery.
But, that’s only part of the story. What most people don’t know is that there are certain risks that laser surgeries carry which are not part of open surgeries. Let’s take a look at some of them.
Safety and Experience
While performing a laser surgery, both the doctor and the patient need to be appropriately shielded from the laser. Eye shields are a must to avoid damage to the eye and there are several other precautions to be taken which if overlooked, can cause serious damage.
The doctor performing the surgery also needs to be highly experienced in using the technology. Even a slight difference in intensity of the laser can turn out to be quite harmful for the patient.
Risk of Fire
When a laser beam comes in contact with ignitable material like paper or even clothing, it creates an instant fire, even an explosion. This becomes risky in an operation theatre. Hence, while using the laser beam, extra caution should be taken to ensure that it does not cause fire.
Permanent damage to tissue and organs
Lasers are quite dangerous and they can cause massive damage to tissues and organs if they are used carelessly. There have been cases where a patient’s lungs exploded due to the high intensity of the laser.
Not suitable for all
Unlike open surgery, laser surgery is not suitable for everyone. Pregnant women are especially advised not to go for laser surgery. Also, patients with severe heart problems are also advised not to undergo treatments using laser technology.
Therefore, you see that, even though laser surgery is the most advanced treatment you can get, it just might not be the right treatment for you.
The intelligent way to make the choice is to identify a doctor whom you are comfortable with and let him decide the best surgical procedure for you.
The Ayu Health Advantage
At Ayu Health, doctors are experienced at performing both open as well as laser surgeries with precision. With a strong focus on clinical outcomes and patient experience, doctors advise the most optimal procedure for each patient.Ayu Health provide fixed-price packages for all kinds of treatments available. Choose Ayu Health and you certainly won’t go wrong!
To book a consultation with us, please call +91-08069489584 or visit https://ayu.health/bangalore/. We have an expert oncologist with over 15 years of experience who delivers seamless care to patients.
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