title: The holmium: YAG laser for ureteric stones.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy of the pulsed holmium: YAG laser for the fragmentation of ureteric stones.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred patients (72 males and 28 females, age range 14 months-85 years) underwent 114 ureteroscopic procedures using either a 7.2 F semi-rigid or 9.5 F flexible ureteroscope. A holmium: YAG laser (Sunrise Technologies. Fremont, Ca, USA) was used for laser lithotripsy at a maximum energy of 1.0 J/pulse at 5 Hz. Most of the stones (46%) were located in the upper third of the ureter. The mean size of the stones was 9 x 8 mm and the mean duration of the procedure was 73 min (including anaesthesia) with a mean hospital stay of 2.7 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the stones were accessed successfully using miniaturized endoscopes either retrogradely or antegradely. The holmium laser effectively fragmented all types of stones. Total clearance of all stones fragments was achieved in 87% of cases, with the best results obtained for stones in the lower third of the ureter (96%). The complications attributed directly to the laser included three strictures and three perforations of the ureteric wall.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The holmium: YAG laser was effective in fragmenting ureteric stones irrespective of their hardness. However, it has the potential to damage the ureteric wall and must be used with caution.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Urology, London, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shroff
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parikh
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Soonawalla
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pope
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D017602:Lithotripsy, Laser / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014514:Ureteral Calculi / Q000628:therapy*