LASER-TISSUE WELDING - A UROLOGICAL SURGEONS PERSPECTIVE

Laser tissue welding has proven its efficacy in the laboratory setting when compared with more traditional modalities of tissue reapproximat ion. In the clinical environment, several areas including urethral rec onstructive surgery have shown great promise. Several technological ad vancements including solder development, chromophore enhancement and t emperature control have improved upon the welding process and have add ed more precision and reproducibility to the technique. The current po tential applications for laser welding in urology are numerous. On a m olecular level, growth factor supplementation has certain potential in improving upon weld site healing and wound strength. Laparoscopic sur gery with its need for less cumbersome modes of tissue closure is a fi eld that will greatly benefit from the technology of laser tissue weld ing. Surgical specialties outside of urology are also participating in developing the field of laser welding. In particular, cardiothoracic surgery, otolaryngology, plastic surgery, neurosurgery among others, h ave utilized the concept of laser tissue welding. There are many areas that have potential use for laser welding that have yet to be explore d. Further investigation will likely reveal more applications for this valuable technology.