Clinical experience with carbon dioxide laser in renal surgery

Our clinical experience in renal surgery utilizing the CO2 laser is presented. The inherent characteristics of precision and hemostasis of this modality were found to be useful in the performance of three anatrophic nephrolithotomies and three partial nephrectomies. Operative time ranged between 110 and 120 minutes, with an average estimated blood loss of 160 cc per case. Surgery on the kidney parenchyma with CO2 laser appears to be a safe and effective modality, reducing blood loss, shortening operative time, and preserving functional integrity on remaining renal tissue.