History of the carbon dioxide laser in otolaryngologic surgery.

The review of recent history shows that since the initial discovery of the principle of the laser, rapid dissemination and application of this modality in the field of medicine have occurred. The use of laser energy has become an established technique in microsurgery and endoscopic surgery, particularly in the field of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery. Laser instruments and surgical techniques and experience are becoming increasingly widely appreciated. All these developments are a tribute to the imagination and determination of a few individuals who were instrumental in recognizing the potential of laser energy for surgical application and in developing and using this new modality in clinical surgery. The major developments in laser surgery include early laboratory studies of laser surgical applications and their effects, the invention and development of instruments allowing application of laser energy in a variety of surgical settings, particularly the upper aerodigestive tract, and clinical studies confirming the efficacy of laser surgery. Other significant developments include the successful application of laser surgery in the eradication or control of selected cancers in the upper aerodigestive tract, including the tracheobronchial tree. Although a firm foundation for laser surgery is well established, its future offers a wide vista of new opportunities.