An apparatus for the removal of waste heat and material during laser cutting of a hollow workpiece by a laser beam includes a duct with external dimensions that permit insertion of at least a portion of the duct within the hollow workpiece, a chamber within the duct for receiving the laser beam, and an opening in an outer surface of the duct for admitting the laser beam into the chamber. The apparatus further includes a first inlet in the duct for supplying a liquid to the chamber, a second inlet in the duct for supplying a gas to the chamber, and a nozzle adapted for supplying a mixture of the liquid and the gas to the chamber.