A new instrument for pulmonary resection: the bipolar Nd-YAG laser dissector

A bipolar Nd-YAG laser dissector was developed to quickly dissect or resect organs, and the possibility of laser pulmonary dissection without scissors and ligation threads was studied experimentally. Pulmonary tissue was completely and easily divided using a bipolar laser handpiece, and the dissected edge was perfectly sealed. Leakage of air and blood from the edge was not induced and no additional stitching was required. Histological examination of the dissected edge revealed tissue remodeling after laser irradiation. The formation of amorphous layers, including vacuoles, was peculiar to the fusion-coagulation area, and alveolar atelectasis and capillary obstructions were characteristic of the degenerative area. When tissue dissection was performed by laser vaporazation, tissue remodeling seemed to be the most important factor in the prevention of leakage. In conclusion, we can effectively and quickly resect pulmonary tissue using the bipolar Nd-YAG laser dissector without scissors and without ligation threads.