Safe Instrumentation in Laser Surgery

Safe instrumentation in laser surgery involves three basic principles. First, the armamentarium used in conjunction with the operative procedure should be nonflammable. Second, the surfaces of instruments should be nonreflective. Finally, there must be a provision for adequately evacuating smoke and steam from the operative field. This article discusses these principles and reviews instrumentation currently used in microlaryngeal and bronchoscopic laser surgery that satisfies these standards.