title: Holmium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser endoureterotomy for benign ureteral strictures: a single-centre experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to report the results of endoureterotomy for benign ureteral strictures using the holmium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen patients (8 men and 11 women, mean age 51.47 years) underwent holmium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser endoureterotomy for benign ureteral strictures (8 proximal, 3 middle, and 8 distal) using semi-rigid ureteroscopy and 360-microm fibre at 1.2 J/pulse and 10 Hz. After completion of the incision, a 7-Fr double-J ureteral stent was left for 6 weeks. Thereafter, the patients were followed-up by ultrasound and/or intravenous urography at 3-6 monthly intervals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Success was defined as the absence of symptoms plus radiographic resolution of obstructions as assessed by diuretic renography and/or intravenous urography. With a mean follow-up of 40.2 months, success was achieved in 10 (52.6%) of the 19 patients. Nine patients developed recurrent strictures and were considered treatment failures. The stricture length and severity of hydronephrosis correlated with successful outcome, but gender, aetiology, side and location of strictures did not predict outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although endoureterotomy using a holmium : yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser has an equivocal outcome, the procedure is recommended as a safe, less invasive therapeutic option for the initial management of benign ureteral strictures.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defence Medical Centre, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: C-M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: T-H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: T-C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: S-H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: S-T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: G-H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: T-L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Cha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014513:Ureter / Q000601:surgery*; D018666:Ureteroscopy; D014525:Urethral Stricture / Q000601:surgery*