[Removal of pulmonary metastases using the Nd:YAG laser]

The authors submit a case-history on their first successful application of a Nd:YAG laser in pulmonary surgery. They operated a 17-year-old boy with metastases of a synovial sarcoma in both wings of the lungs. First the boy was operated on the left side by the classical technique, half a year later the authors used a Nd:YAG laser on the right side. By means of the laser four metastases were removed. The postoperative course was without complications. One month after operation the patient was discharged from the care of oncologists and was free of complaints. The authors compare the surgical techniques and the postoperative course of the patient. A Nd:YAG laser is a suitable supplement of the equipment of pulmonary surgeons. Since the described case the authors used the laser in same indication in another three patients.