The so-called “lung laser machine”, used by the Greek scientist, costs approximately 120,000 pounds and shortens both the treatment’s duration and the length of hospital stay, while allowing for speedier patient recovery.
An innovative method, used by the senior consultant thoracic surgeon at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, George Ladas, effectively destroys stamp-sized cancer tumours in the lungs. The laser machine, which has so far been a huge success, attacks the tumours with light beams generating the energy equivalent of 70 microwave ovens.
Having received his initial training in Greece, Ladas left for Britain where he has worked since 1994. According to the Daily Mail, the Greek scientist had completed hundreds of conventional lung metastasectomy operations- an especially time consuming procedure, which can last up to 12 hours- before he began implementing the new laser technique.
The idea of laser tumour removal was first conceived in Germany in the early ‘90s. Ladas’ machine generates 70.000 watts of energy per square centimeter, reaching temperatures of up to 7.000 degrees Celsium and effectively causing the tumours to vaporize and disappear completely. Everyone present during the procedure has to wear protective goggles to avoid laser-induced eye damage.
George Ladas received training in the new method in Germany and Austria. Before being allowed to use the laser machine, he had to obtain permission from the British hospital’s Clinical Practice Committee that is responsible for ensuring patient safety.