| ALP | acute leukemia protocol; acute lupus pericarditis; alkaline phosphatase; alveolar proteinosis; anter... |
|---|---|
| ALT | alanine aminotransferase; argon laser trabeculoplasty; avian laryngotracheitis |
| Ar Kr | argon-krypton [laser] |
| EUV | extreme ultraviolet laser |
| HeNe | helium neon [laser] |
| laser surgery | A type of operation using the cutting powers of laser beams from various sources. The use of a laser either to vaporise surface lesions or to make bloodless cuts in tissue. It does not include the coagulation of tissue by laser (laser coagulation). (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| laser trabeculoplasty | An operation for glaucoma in which laser energy is applied to trabecular meshwork.a procedure in which a laser (usually argon) is used to create small openings in the trabecular network of the eye. This improves the flow of the aqueous humor and relieves pressure owed to open-angle glaucoma, although by what precise mechanism is not known. LTP has proven effective with only certain types of glaucoma (especially capsular and pigmentary glaucomas), and is sometimes used in conjunction with laser iridotomy. Investigations into laser treatments of open-angle glaucoma began in the early 1970s, but not until the late 1980s was LTP adopted as a standard treatment for the condition, with a 2-year success rate of over 70% (dropping to 50% after 5 years). LTP lessens chances of postoperative infection and haemorrhaging, and can be performed on an outpatient basis. LTP joins other laser techniques that have radically altered eye surgery since their advent. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lithotripsy, laser | Fragmentation of calculi, notably urinary or biliary, by laser. It is usually performed with an endoscopically guided pulsed tunable dye laser, a combination of a pulsed laser and a dye laser usually referred to as a pulsed dye laser. It is both safe and effective when extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy is infeasible or unsuccessful. (12 Dec 1998) |