[Endoscopic laser therapy. Indications, effectiveness and cost analysis in a medical department]

Between June 1985 and December 1988, 297 endoscopic laser procedures were performed in 130 patients. The indications comprised hemostasis, coagulation of potentially bleeding lesions, palliative tumor therapy in the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract and in the tracheobronchial tree, eradication of adenomas after incomplete snare resection, and recanalization of benign esophageal/cardiac strictures and postoperative colonic stenoses. In addition, an endoscopically introduced biliary endoprosthesis was shortened. Treatment was highly effective, and the complication rate less than 1%. The average operating cost of the laser equipment was DM 80 per application, increasing to 430 DM when account was taken of the high purchasing price of the laser.