title: Application of endoscopic Ho:YAG laser incision technique treating urethral strictures and urethral atresias in pediatric patients.
abstract: Endoscopic holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Ho:YAG) laser incision is a new method applied in pediatric urology recent years. To evaluate its therapeutic efficacy on treating the pediatric patients with urethral strictures and urethral atresias, a retrospective study was performed from June 2001 to July 2005 in a total of 28 pediatric patients who underwent endoscopic internal urethrotomy using Ho:YAG laser in our center. In these patients, 25 had urethral strictures and 3 urethral atresias. Follow-up was done ranging from 2 months to 4 years to assess the treatment. Of the 28 patients, 25 (89.3%) have achieved satisfied result without complications following initial incisions. Two patients with urethral atresias and another with long lesion of stricture (> 2 cm) have postoperative stenosis (10.7%). Among the three reoccurred patients, two were successfully reoperated by Ho:YAG laser and open end-to-end anastomosis, respectively. One patient failed to follow-up. With the advantages of safety, efficacy and minimal invasion, endoscopic Ho:YAG laser incision technique could be used as a primary treatment in urethral stricture patients and is worthy to be popularized further in pediatric surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, 107# West Culture Road, Jinan City, 250012, China. sunfutao20720@126.com
authors.forename: Sun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Futao
authors.forename: Zhang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wentong
authors.forename: Zhuang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Qingyu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aiwu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004724:Endoscopy; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014521:Urethra / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D014525:Urethral Stricture / Q000601:surgery*