Laser surgery in exsanguinating liver injury.

Thirty-two conditioned 15-18 kg dogs underwent laparotomy, heparinization, left lateral hepatic lobe injury and subsequent partial left lateral hepatic lobectomy. The hemostatic capabilities of the surgical scalpel combined with suture ligatures and stay sutures, the Bovie, and the CO2 laser were compared. The CO2 laser proved significantly more effective in achieving hemostasis both in comparison to the Bovine and the surgical scalpel combined with classical methods.