In utero fetal surgery using a milliwatt carbon dioxide laser.
In utero surgery represents a future new frontier with unknown possibilities for medical intervention. Since the presently available microsurgery instruments are too cumbersome or indelicate, low-energy carbon dioxide lasers have been investigated as a tool that holds promise as a fetal scalpel and hemastatic device. Preliminary results demonstrate that continued investigation is necessary to limit the zone of tissue destruction in these most diminutive patients.
Hallock
G G
GG
Department of Surgery, Dorothy Rider Pool Laser and Microsurgery Laboratory, Allentown, Pennsylvania 18103.
Rice
D C
DC
D000818:Animals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000601:surgery*; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008046:Lip / Q000601:surgery*; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D002245:Carbon Dioxide