ABSTRACT
This Chapter discusses the role of laser photocoagulation in upper gastrointestinal bleeding. It describes some of the technical and biologic aspects of the lasers being studied, the animal work reported, and the American clinical experience. The type of fiberendoscope required for laser photocoagulation varies with the type of waveguide. To use the quartz fiber encapsulated waveguide, any standard fiberendoscope is adequate. This includes the newer 28-30 French circumference instruments which are being used with increasing frequency in clinical gastrointestinal endoscopy. Most of the nonrandomized and controlled clinical trials of laser photocoagulation have been reported from outside the US and will be subsequently described in detail by Dr. Cotton. In the US, there are several clinical trials of the argon laser and the neodymium-YAG laser in massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding in progress. The carbon dioxide laser was the first laser to be used for the endoscopic control of bleeding.
