[Histochemical determination of vitality limits after the use of neodymium-YAG-lasers on parenchymatous organs].

Specific pediatric surgical problems, specially the hemisplenectomy and the partial liver resection in newborns and small children, offer a new indication for the laser beam. Special morphologic characteristics, like small organs and small vessels diameter, make the laser an useful procedure in children. With help of a histochemical technic could be shown a defined necrosis area - in dependence of the laser dose - in liver, spleen and kidney of rabbits under standard laser photocoagulation. Five days after the partial organ resection one could observe a well defined vital border, and after one week an invasive growing fibrotic tissue into the necrosis area, which would form the new capsula. No cases of infection or bleeding were present (84 partial organ resections). Using known doses one can exactly calculate the area of necrosis and evaporation.