LAPAROSCOPIC HIGHLY SELECTIVE VAGOTOMY USING CO2-LASER - EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY IN DOGS

We attempted to establish a modified laparoscopic highly selective vag otomy using CO2 laser in dogs and evaluated its effectiveness and feas ibility. After the laser dose based on gross and histologic measuremen ts was determined, five dogs underwent anterior CO2 laser vagotomy wit h posterior truncal vagotomy under laparoscopy (lap-laser vagotomy) an d five others underwent anterior selective vagotomy with posterior tru ncal vagotomy in the standard fashion via laparotomy (open surgical va gotomy). No complications such as gastric perforation were observed in any of the dogs subjected to lap-laser vagotomy, and the operating ti me was approximately half of that required for open surgical vagotomy. After surgery, acid secretion significantly decreased versus preopera tive values in both groups of animals and remained stable for 6 months . We conclude that anterior CO2 laser vagotomy with posterior truncal vagotomy is as effective as conventional vagotomy and easier to perfor m; thus, we recommend it as a method of laparoscopic highly selective vagotomy.