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Past, Present, and Future Usage of Lasers in Clinical Neurosurgery

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Evaluation and Installation of Surgical Laser Systems

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Abstract

Technological innovations have had significant impact on the delivery of neurosurgical care. The introduction of lasers into the armamentarium of surgical instruments has provided neurosurgeons with a method of tissue removal that is more delicate than those previously available. At present, the primary application for lasers in neurological surgery is in the ablation of critically placed neoplastic tissues. Because the interaction of laser energy with tissue is inherently hemostatic, this relatively nontouch technique of removing neoplasms decreases blood loss. Tissue coagulation or removal can be accomplished without mechanical manipulation; therefore damage to surrounding normal tissues is less. In addition, evoked responses and EEG can be monitored continuously during laser surgery so that aspects of the surgical procedure that compromise neural function can be immediately recognized and remedied. Competent use of surgical lasers results in precise and hemostatic ablation of target tissue with decreased likelihood of damage to adjacent normal structures. Although these assets are particularly valuable in neurosurgery, the percentage of cases in which laser use is “a must” is probably less than 10%.1

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Authors
  1. James E. Boggan
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  2. Michael S. B. Edwards
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, 94301, Palo Alto, California, USA

    David B. Apfelberg M.D.

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© 1987 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

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Boggan, J.E., Edwards, M.S.B. (1987). Past, Present, and Future Usage of Lasers in Clinical Neurosurgery. In: Apfelberg, D.B. (eds) Evaluation and Installation of Surgical Laser Systems. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4648-0_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4648-0_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-9098-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-4648-0

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