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Clinical experience with holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy of ureteral calculi
Author(s) -
Yiu M.K.,
Liu P.L.,
Yiu T.F.,
Chan A.Y.T.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
lasers in surgery and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1096-9101
pISSN - 0196-8092
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9101(1996)19:1<103::aid-lsm12>3.0.co;2-9
Subject(s) - lithotripsy , laser lithotripsy , holmium , medicine , urology , laser , surgery , optics , physics
Background and Objective We recently acquired a holmium:YAG laser with wavelength of 2.1 μm. We would like to report our success in using this machine for laser lithotripsy. Study Design/Patients and Methods: Forty‐seven ureteroscopic laser lithotripsies were performed in 44 patients (three bilateral stones) over a 6 month period. Four stones were in the upper ureter, six in the middle ureter, and 37 in the lower ureter. The holmium laser beam was delivered via a 400 micron flexible quartz fiber through a 7 Fr rigid ureteroscope during the procedure. The stone size varied from 4 to 21 mm. Results The success rate was 91%. Most of the stones were fragmented to less than 2 mm in size. Larger fragments were removed with a Dormia basket (six cases) for stone clearance. Endoscopic laser ureterotomy was performed in two patients with stricture below the stone. One patient required conversion to open ureterolithotomy, and three required subsequent Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy. A low complication rate was observed. Conclusion The pulsed holmium:YAG laser is safe and effective for use in ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.