title: Holmium: YAG laser damage to ureteral guidewire.
abstract: The holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (holmium:YAG) laser effectively fragments urinary calculi of all compositions. Complications have been minimal and mostly attributable to the ureteroscopy as opposed to the laser. We report a case in which the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coating of a ureteral guidewire was broken with the holmium:YAG laser and remained in the collecting system after the guidewire was removed postoperatively. The patient required cystoscopy to remove the guidewire coating.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, USA.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Freiha
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Teichman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003558:Cystoscopy; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006801:Humans; D017602:Lithotripsy, Laser / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D009403:Nephrostomy, Percutaneous / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011859:Radiography; D014545:Urinary Calculi / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*