Radical breast surgery with a contact Nd:YAG laser scalpel

The use of a contact Nd:YAG laser scalpel during radical and modified radical mastectomy was evaluated in 18 patients with carcinoma of the breast. The laser scalpel performed well as a haemostatic tool, the associated mean blood loss for modified radical mastectomy being 132 ml. Operating time, operative blood loss, laser energy required and postoperative wound drainage were all related to patient obesity, correlating significantly with body weight and/or breast weight. The incidence of axillary seroma was not reduced by laser surgery and occurred in 53% of patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy. The Nd:YAG laser scalpel is an excellent haemostatic tool but it does not appear to have any other advantages over conventional surgery for mastectomy.