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lAser surgery
Your cat's health and well-
being are very important to
us. With this in mind, we are
pleased to offer laser surgery
as a better alternative to the
traditional scalpel for all surgi-
cal procedures. A laser is an
intense beam that can be used
to cut and seal tissue. At Cats
Only Veterinary Hospital, we
use a CO2 laser that emits an
infrared light. The main com-
ponent of cells, water, readily
absorbs this light. This absorp-
tion allows a surgeon to cut,
vaporize and cauterize tissue
with remarkable results.
Compared with the traditional scalpel, laser surgery
has benefits for both the patient and surgeon and
these benefits are recognized in both human and
veterinary medicine. So why do we prefer laser
surgery?
Reduced pain As the laser cuts, it seals nerve
·
endings. As a result, there is less pain during the
procedure and post-operatively. Our hospital is
very aggressive with pain management. In addi-
tion to pain medications, laser surgery is another
tool we use to achieve adequate pain control in
our patients.
Less bleeding In addition to sealing nerve end-
·
ings, the laser seals (or cauterizes) small blood
vessels as it cuts. As a result, there is less bleed-
ing during the procedure, better visualization
during surgery for the surgeon, and less post-
operative bandaging.
Precision The laser beam allows our doctors to
·
make very precise and accurate incisions.
Reduced post-operative swelling The laser
·
enables the surgeon to minimize the handling of
delicate tissues as there is no physical contact
between the laser and surgical area. As a result,
tissue tearing and bruising is minimized as well
as post-operative swelling.
Faster recovery In addition to less pain and
·
bleeding, there is also less swelling. As a result,
our patients have faster recoveries with fewer
side effects. This in turn translates into a shorter
hospital stay so our patients can be at home with
their families faster.
What type of procedures is the laser used for? We
utilize the benefits of laser surgery for all of our
routine surgeries such as declaws, neuters and
spays. Laser surgery is also used at our hospital
for advanced surgeries such as mass removals, ear
hematoma repair, abdominal exploratories, cystoto-
mies (bladder surgeries), dental procedures, and
nose repairs.
This Himalayan had difficulty breathing and a snor-
ing problem. He was not very active and basically
slept all day. With the help of laser surgery, he now
can breath easier and enjoys a much more active
life. These pictures show a before and halfway
through the procedure.
Provided by Erik Ask DVM
Cats Only Veterinary Hospital
610-279-CATS (2287)
lAser surgery