title: Broncholith removal using the YAG laser.
abstract: An 85-year-old woman presented with a broncholith in the intermediate bronchus that could not be extracted with either flexible or rigid bronchoscopes. A YAG laser was used to fragment this broncholith so that it could be removed in pieces through a bronchoscope. Chemical composition and morphology of the broncholith were determined. Fragmentation of the large, impacted broncholith with the laser eliminated the necessity for a thoracotomy in this elderly woman.
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Miks
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Kvale
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Riddle
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001982:Bronchial Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002137:Calculi / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D017886:Durapatite; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006882:Hydroxyapatites / Q000032:analysis; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000379:methods*; D017602:Lithotripsy, Laser; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
chemical_list: D006882:Hydroxyapatites; D017886:Durapatite