What procedures can be done with the CO2 Laser? What are the advantages for your pet in having surgery performed with a CO2 Laser compared to surgery done with a surgical blade or electrosurgical scalpel? What does it cost to have your pet's surgery done with a surgical laser? Here we hope to answer these and many more of your questions.

First, let's review the brief history of lasers in veterinary medicine. Lasers have only been used widely in veterinary hospitals for about the past five years, but they are quickly becoming the "standard of care" for any modern, well-equipped veterinary hospital in the twenty first century. The first surgical lasers to be seen in veterinary hospitals ten to fifteen years ago were generally surplus or recycled units. These instruments were large, cumbersome, and very akward to use. Even though they were usually purchased second hand from human surgeons or dermatologists, they were still prohibitively expensive, usually costing in excess of one hundred thousand dollars. Keep in mind that veterinarians are independent business owners, and not supported by large corporations or public taxes and subsidies granted to the hospitals used by our human physician counterparts. When veterinarians need a new or replacement piece of equipment, the price of that investment comes directly out of their pocket. So for many years the cost, scarcity, and general lack of experience with surgical lasers in veterinary medicine kept them from being practical for use in all but referral specialty practices.

In 1995, Luxar (now Lumenis), a leading manufacturer of human CO2 Surgical Lasers, began to market a laser to veterinarians. While still requiring a sizeable investment, (most carbon dioxide surgical lasers in use by veterinarians today still cost from twenty-five to forty thousand dollars), Luxar Accuvet not only offered a dependable, good quality surgical laser, but they also sponsored frequent intensive continuing education and orientation programs. This allowed veterinarians to learn first hand the benefits of laser surgery to their patients, and how to safely incorporate the surgical laser into their practice. Soon the CO2 Surgical Laser was becoming more readily accepted and utilized by veterinarians worldwide.

Before long, laser surgery was being used for procedures previously only performed with a surgical blade. The results and improved recovery of patients was so remarkable that most veterinarians soon realized the value of offering laser surgery for most procedures.

Today the CO2 Surgical Laser is commonly used for;

The CO2 Surgical Laser works by emmission of a narrowly focused, specific wavelength of energy in the form of an invisible beam of laser light. As the laser contacts tissues containing water and hemoglobin molecules, it vaporizes the tissue as it seals nerves, blood vessels, and lymphatics during the incisional process. This leads to less post operative pain, as nerves have been sealed rather than just severed. Bleeding is controlled as the CO2 laser seals blood vessels up to one millimeter in diameter. As tissue is incised, lymphatic (tissue fluid drainage) containing vessels are also sealed, leading to a reduction in post surgical swelling and associated wound drainage and discomfort. Because of the specific wavelength of light generated by the CO2 Laser, it also results in a very minimum of "collateral", or surrounding, tissue damage as compared to the incisions made by even the most modern electrosurgical or radiosurgical instruments.

What does it cost to have surgery for my pet done with the laser?

Use of the CO2 Surgical Laser generally adds about 10 to 20 percent to our regular surgical fees. As discussed above, a Surgical Laser is a sizeable investment of both time and money, but the advantages to the patient, your pet, are remarkable. Your pet will experience less discomfort, and will recover more quickly from any surgical procedure performed with laser as compared to standard surgical techniques. Your pets cannot make the decision for themselves, but they depend on you and your veterinarian to provide the safest, most humane care available.