Lasers in gastroenterology

Table 1 Laser effects used in gastroenterology

Laser effect	Clinical use
High power thermal:	Haemostasis
	Cutting or debulking of tissue by vaporisation and coagulation
Low power thermal: (Interstitial laser photocoagulation, ILP)	Gentle coagulation of lesions within solid organs
Photochemical: (Photodynamic therapy, PDT)	Non-thermal destruction of tissue by activation of a previously administered photosensitising drug
Pulsed shock wave	Fragmentation of gall stones