title: Tissue repair using lasers: a review.
abstract: Numerous attempts have been made to use heating of tissue to effect an anastomotic union of severed tissue edges. Improvements in electrocautery and lasers have made experimental tissue anastomosis feasible; but clinical application of tissue welding has involved only limited clinical trials. Using heat to anastomose tissue is fraught with complications. The factors that lead to successful tissue welding and the technique's limitations are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Laser Research and Demonstration Center, Orlando Regional Medical Center, Fla.
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Dew
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Supik
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Darrow
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Price
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000601:surgery; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000379:methods; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000601:surgery; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000637:transplantation; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D014945:Wound Healing