Laser Surgery

Disadvantages of laser surgery

Although many laser surgeries can be performed in a doctor's office rather than in a hospital, the person guiding the laser must be at least as thoroughly trained and highly skilled as someone performing the same procedure in a hospital setting. The American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, Inc. urges that:

• all operative areas be equipped with oxygen and other drugs and equipment required for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
• non-physicians performing laser procedures be proper-ly trained, licensed, and insured
• a qualified and experienced supervising physician be able to respond to and manage unanticipated events or other emergencies within five minutes of the time they occur
• emergency transportation to a hospital or other acute-care facility be available whenever laser surgery is performed in a non-hospital setting

Imprecisely aimed lasers can burn or destroy healthy tissue.

Preparation

Because laser surgery is used to treat so many dissimilar conditions, the patient should ask his physician for detailed instructions about how to prepare for a specific procedure. Diet, activities, and medications may not have to be limited prior to surgery, but some procedures require a physical examination and a medical history that:

• determines the patient's general health and current medical status
• describes how the patient has responded to other illnesses, hospital stays, and diagnostic or therapeutic procedures
• clarifies what the patient expects the outcome of the procedure to be

Aftercare

Most laser surgeries can be performed on an outpatient basis, and patients are usually permitted to leave the hospital or medical office when their vital signs have stabilized. A patient who has been sedated should not be discharged:

• until he has recovered from the anesthesia and knows who and where he is
• unless he is accompanied by a responsible adult

The doctor may prescribe analgesic (pain-relieving) medication, and should provide easy-to-understand written instructions that describe how the patient's recovery should progress and what to do in case complications or emergency arise.

Content licensed from:

Author Info: Maureen Haggerty, The Gale Group Inc., Gale, Detroit, Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 2002

This feature is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the care and information received from your healthcare provider. Please consult a healthcare professional with any health concerns you may have.