November 26, 2004 at 7:04 a.m.
Advances in human medical care such as laser technology, very useful to veterinarian
Advances in human medical care such as laser technology, very useful to veterinarian
Before the advent of laser technology a cat undergoing something like this would face a couple days’ worth of recovery time and there’d be the possibility of complications due to tourniquet use. Ease of recovery and reduction of surgical complications are two of many reasons that this Lindstrom veterinarian invested in a LASER unit.
Dr. Pete Lukasik said he is continuing to enhance his skills with the laser and he anticipates broadening the scope of procedures. Dental work, eye procedures and tumor removal are some of what Dr. Lukasik envisions becoming common procedures. While he feels very comfortable on the new technology, he will participate in an advanced training regimine after the holiday where he works at a “fellow” status for laser proficiency.
Dr. Pete is one of only a few vets using laser in this region for veterinary procedures. The day the Press visited a staff member at the animal hospital had fielded a call from a southern Minnesota pet owner searching for a laser facility.
Dr. Pete has used laser to operate on a canine liver tumor, on animal eye injuries and neutering and spaying.
He is completely sold.
“I liked doing surgery before,” he explained. “But this technology has opened doors for us surgically that I never thought of.” Dr. Pete calls it the future “work horse” in veterinary medicine.
The way a laser works is that it reacts with tissue through a beam of light. The surgeon controls the wattage and width of the beam and other technicalities. Dr. Pete has a 20 watt “super pulse” carbon dioxide machine valued around $50,000.
A laser is so exact it leaves tissue a tenth-of-a millimeter away from the cut undamaged. Laser seals nerve endings and blood vessels as it cuts, which means less blood, less pain and quick recovery. The liver procedure especially, he mentioned, was such a success because liver is a difficult organ to stitch. There was no need to with laser surgery.
Lukasik said about 95 percent of his surgeries use laser technology. He added, “We can utilize the laser as a multi-purpose tool because it can cut, cauterize and vaporize tissue.”
Pet owners are amazed when he lets them know a nagging lump or wart can be removed from their pet that same day, if they’d like. Within minutes the pet goes home free of an annoying skin or tissue problem.
To share his enthusiasm for the technology and expose possible future veterinarians to laser advances, Dr. Lukasik has scheduled a surgical demonstration next week at Chisago Lakes High School.
On top of all its other attributes-- the laser is also portable.
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