{"paper_id":"0c967f83-9259-4414-942c-b78a8a8f87c0","body_text":"Abstract\nAdhesions and endometriosis are commonly encountered among patients presenting with pelvic or lower abdominal pain and also in a significant proportion of infertile patients. Laparoscopic investigation is usual in patients with these problems, and it has been possible to perform endoscopic surgery with special scissors and electrodiathermy. These methods can cause troublesome bleeding, and the diathermy produces high temperatures which can be hazardous if used in the vicinity of the bowel. The carbon dioxide laser can be used endoscopically to vaporize deposits of endometriosis and adhesions with great precision and virtually no bleeding. One hundred consecutive patients with endometriosis or adhesions were treated with the CO2 laser laparoscope and followed up for at least a year. Seventy-five per cent of patients with pain due to endometriosis were cured, and 68% of patients were better after laser laparoscopic adhesiolysis. Pregnancy rate in the previously infertile group with endometriosis was 64%. There were no complications due to the intra-abdominal use of CO2 laser energy under endoscopic control, although there is a need for a controlled trial. It appears that in the hands of an experienced laparoscopist this technique is safe and effective.\nSimilar content being viewed by others\nReferences\nChamberlain GVP.Gynaecological laparoscopy. The report of the working party of the confidential enquiry into gynaecological laparoscopy. London: Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 1982\nAllen JM, Stein DS, Shingleton HM. Regeneration of cervical epithelium after laser vaporisation.Obstet Gynecol 1983,62:700\nBellina JH, Hemmings R, Voros IJ, Ross LF. CO2 laser and electrosurgical wound study with an animal model. A comparison of tissue damage and healing patterns in peritoneal tissue.Am J Obstet Gynecol 1984,148:327\nDaniell JF, Feste JR. Laser laparosopy. In: Keye WR (ed)Laser Surgery in Gynaecology and Obstetrics. Boston: G. K. Hall, Medical Publishers, 1985:Chap 2, p 147–63\nThe American Fertility Society. Classification of endometriosis.Fertil Steril 1979,32:633\nBruhat M, Mage C, Manhes M. Use of CO2 laser via laparoscopy. In: Kaplan I (ed)Laser Surgery III.Proceedings of the Third Congress of the International Society for Laser Surgery. Tel Aviv: International Society for Laser Surgery, 1979:275\nTadir Y, Kaplan I, Zuckerman Z. A second puncture probe for laser laparoscopy. In: Atsumi K, Nimsakul N (eds)Laser Surgery IV.Proceedings of the Fourth Congress of the International Society for Laser Surgery. Tokyo: International Society for Laser Surgery, 1981:25–6\nDaniell JF, Brown DH. Carbon dioxide laser laparoscopy: initial experience in experimental animals and humans.Obstet Gynecol 1982,59:761\nKeye WR, Matson GA, Dixon J. The use of the argon laser in the treatment of experimental endometriosis.Fertil Steril 1983,39:26\nKeye WR, Dixon J. Photocoagulation of endometriosis by argon laser through the laparoscope.Obstet Gynecol 1983,62:383\nLomano JM. Photocoagulation of early pelvic endometriosis by the Nd-YAG laser through the laparoscope.J Reprod Med 1985,30:72\nFeste JR. Laser laparoscopy: A new modality.J Reprod Med 1985,30:413–7\nMartin DC. Internal use of the laser laparoscope for endometriosis following Danazol therapy.Fertil Steril 1984,41:745\nDaniell J. Laser laparoscopy for endometriosis.Colposcopy Gynaecol Laser Surg 1984,1:185–92\nDaniell JF, Pittaway DE, Maxson WS. The role of laparoscopic adhesiolysis in an in-vitro fertilization programme.Fertil Steril 1983,40:49–52\nAuthor information\nAuthors and Affiliations\nRights and permissions\nAbout this article\nCite this article\nSutton, C. Initial experience with carbon dioxide laser laparoscopy. Laser Med Sci 1, 25–31 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02030734\nReceived:\nIssue date:\nDOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02030734","source_license":"CC0","license_restricted":false}