Nd:YAG Laser surgery of lung metastases

Lung metastases occur during the course of the disease in many types of cancer. If the basic disorder is under control and there are no distant or mediastinal lymph node metastases, removal of the lung metastases can improve long-term survival. Lung metastases are non-anatomically removed from the healthy patient if they have not infiltrated any central bronchi or blood vessels. Nd:YAG lasers are particularly suitable for this. They cut the lung parenchyma and at the same time coagulate the resected surface. This means that large numbers of lung metastases can be removed with little bleeding. Modern Nd:YAG lasers (wavelength 1318 nm) are more efficient to use because the laser power is greater (80–100 W). This shortens the operation time and makes the resected surfaces more airtight. Consequently, resection zones on the surface need no longer to be sutured. The mortality and morbidity of the operations are low. Nd:YAG lasers are now indispensable in the surgical treatment of lung metastases.