Treatment of pediatric urethral stricture disease with the neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of the neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser in the treatment of pediatric urethral stricture disease.


METHODS
Twelve boys who had previously undergone unsuccessful cold-knife internal urethrotomy or serial urethral dilation for urethral stricture disease underwent endoscopic laser internal urethrotomy utilizing a contact-tip fiber for recurrent urethral stricture.


RESULTS
At a mean follow-up of 12 months, 10 of the 12 boys are free of stricture disease for an overall success rate of 83%. Two boys were considered failures and underwent successful open urethroplasty. There were no treatment complications.


CONCLUSIONS
The Nd:YAG laser utilizing the contact-tip fiber was successful in treating recurrent urethral stricture disease. The hemostatic characteristic of the laser allowed bloodless urethrotomy, which was particularly useful when operating with the smaller pediatric endoscopic instruments.
Faerber
G J
GJ
Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor.
Park
J M
JM
Bloom
D A
DA
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014525:Urethral Stricture / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014563:Urodynamics