title: Guidewire fragmentation during holmium:YAG laser endopyelotomy.
abstract: A guidewire fracture is a rare complication of laser surgery. We report that this rare complication occurred during a retrograde endoureteropyelotomy with the holmium:YAG laser. No data are available about the safety of commonly used guidewires. A comparative in vitro study was performed with two types of guidewires to assess their resistance. At all energy levels tested, a Teflon-coated guidewire performed best in the present safety test.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Countess of Chester Hospital, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Biyani
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Powell
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D007682:Kidney Pelvis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D008297:Male; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*