title: Holmium laser endoureterotomy for benign ureteral stricture: a single center experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the long-term outcome of laser endoureterotomy for benign ureteral stricture.
  
  
  METHODS
  From a database of 69 patients who underwent retrograde laser endoureterotomy from October 2001 to June 2007 we identified 35 with a benign ureteral stricture. Clinical characteristics, operative results and functional outcomes were investigated. Success was defined as symptomatic improvement and radiographic resolution of obstruction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median followup was 27 months (range 10 to 72). All except 1 patient were followed at least 16 months. All patients completed clinical followup and 33 completed imaging. Of 35 patients 29 (82%) were symptom-free during followup and 26 of 33 (78.7%) were free of radiographic evidence of obstruction. All except 1 failure occurred within less than 9 months postoperatively. The success rate was higher for nonischemic strictures (100% vs 64.7%, p = 0.027) and tended to be higher for strictures 1 cm or less (89.4% vs 64.2%, p = 0.109).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Holmium laser endoureterotomy is effective for benign ureteral stricture in well selected patients. Most failures occur within less than 9 months after surgery, which may indicate a need for closer followup during postoperative year 1. Factors that might may outcome are ischemia and stricture length.
authors.affiliation: Section of Urology, Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Ehud
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gnessin
authors.forename: Ofer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yossepowitch
authors.forename: Ronen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.forename: Pinchas M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Livne
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Lifshitz
mesh_terms: D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D014513:Ureter / Q000601:surgery*; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000601:surgery*; D013521:Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male / Q000379:methods