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Lasers for Endoscopy

The main uses of lasers during veterinary endoscopy have been the diode laser for cutting and ablating tissue during fluid infusion, and the holmium laser for lithotripsy. Tissue cutting and ablation is primarily during cystoscopy for ectopic ureter treatment, but also has been used to debulk tumors during rhinoscopy and video-otoscopy.

Holmium lasers are one of the energy sources used for lithotripsy. The primary application is to fragment and remove calculi from female dogs. These calculi must be too large to be removed by cystoscopy alone and should not be so large or numerous that prolonged anesthesia and cystoscopy are required for lithotripsy.

Above: This diode laser (wave length of 980 um) is used to cut tissue during fluid infusion. A 400- or 600-micron fiber is passed through the operating channel of a 1.9 or 2.7mm cystoscope.

Above: A holmium laser is used for lithotripsy. The element is also passed through the operating channel of the cystoscope in a similar fashion as the diode fiber. This channel is also used for a basket catheter for removal of calculi and calculi fragments.

Above: Demonstration of the training for lithotripsy using a holmium laser. Such training is critical to develop the skill required for lithotripsy. Only clinicians with cystoscopy experience should attempt lithotripsy.

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