Lasers in Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery

Numerous types of lasers have been produced employing various designs and base materials, and development of new laser technologies is continuing at a rapid rate. The three main types of lasers that have been used in general surgery are carbon dioxide (C_O2), argon, and neodymium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) lasers. The different wavelengths determine the visibility of the beam and the depth of tissue penetration (Table 1).