
Complications
Lumenis Pulse 120H UM-10012510 Rev. F
Page 29
• Use caution when treating patients who have recently undergone
radiotherapy. Such patients may be at greater risk of tissue perforation
or erosion.
• Highly vascularized anatomical structures should be approached with
caution, taking into account the limited coagulative properties of the
laser. Electrocautery and/or suture (ligature) should be easily accessible
in the event that a bleeding vessel is larger than possible to control with
the laser. The risk of bleeding may be higher in patients taking
anticoagulants/ platelet aggregates.
• Baskets, guide wires, and other surgical accessories may be damaged
by direct contact with the laser treatment beam.
Complications
The following is a list of general complications that are related to surgery
and within this context, laser surgery. The potential complications
encountered in endoscopic laser surgery are the same as those normally
encountered in conventional endoscopic surgery. Refer to updated
literature for specific procedure related complications.
• As with conventional surgery, the possibility of complications and
adverse events, such as chills, fever, edema, hemorrhage, inflammation,
tissue necrosis, or infection may occur following treatment. In extreme
cases, death may occur due to procedural complications, concurrent
illness, or laser application.
• As with any surgical procedure there is a possibility of infection or
scarring. Therefore, appropriate pre and post-surgical care should
always be practiced.
• As with any conventional surgery discontinue laser treatment
immediately if the patient develops any cardiopulmonary problems.
• As with any conventional surgery, acute pain may occur immediately
following laser therapy and may persist for as long as 48 hours.
• Immediately following laser therapy, the patient may experience fever
and leukocytosis, which are commonly associated with tissue
destruction. These generally resolve without treatment. Remnants of
destructed tissue may become necrotic or infected. If a question of
infection exists, appropriate treatment should be carried out.