title: Holmium laser ablation of anterior urethral valves: case report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a novel method for treating anterior urethral valves in children using the holmium:YAG laser.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 2-year-old boy presented with symptoms of urinary-outflow obstruction. A micturating cystourethrogram (MCUG) revealed an abrupt narrowing of the penile urethra. At cystourethroscopy, an anterior urethral valve without a diverticulum was visible. This was ablated endoscopically using the Ho:YAG laser. The child voided successfully and was discharged the next day. Repeat MCUG 6 months later revealed a normal-caliber urethra.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Holmium:YAG laser ablation of anterior valves is a minimally invasive treatment modality that provided a satisfactory result and appears to be very promising.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Armed Forces Hospital, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. salimalbusaidy@hotmail.com
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Al-Busaidy
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Prem
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Medhat
authors.forename: Y H K
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Al-Bulushi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gaber
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Pai
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D006695:Holmium; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D014521:Urethra / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D014524:Urethral Obstruction / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D006695:Holmium