The Nd: YAG laser has finally become the multidisciplinary and muitispeciaity tool of the 1980s. Primarily developed for gastrointestinal applications for controlling bleeding, at present it is also used for endoscopic treatment of gastrointestinal tumors, endobronchial cancer, and bladder and gynecological lesions and finding applications in otorhinolaryngology and neurosurgery. De velopment of laser scalpels and focusing head-pieces has now allowed the Nd: YAG laser to be used for open surgical procedures in general and plastic surgery, head and neck surgery, urology, gynecology,...