Laser hepatorrhaphy in albino rats

The ability of low-power Nd-YAG laser to weld liver tears was studied in nine albino rats (average body weight 146 g) after induction of 11 liver tears. Laser hepatorrhaphy was successful in ten tears. Haemostasis was achieved with the laser technique in all 11 tears, including the single case of postoperative liver tear dehiscence. Bleeding from the site of a marker stitch was successfully controlled by two additional laser shots in one animal. Histologic studies of successfully welded liver tears were done on the first and third postoperative days.