title: Flexible ureterorenoscopy with holmium laser in horseshoe kidneys.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the outcome of flexible ureterorenoscopy (F-URS) with the holmium laser in treating stones in the horseshoe kidney (HSK).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the records of 17 patients with a HSK stone (17 renal units) who had undergone F-URS with the holmium laser from December 2004 to May 2009. The presenting symptoms were renal colic, urinary tract infection, or hematuria. F-URS was used in as an alternative after the failure of shock wave lithotripsy in 8 patients (47%) and percutaneous nephrolithotomy failure in 4 patients (23.5%). Follow-up examination was performed after 4-6 weeks with plain radiography and either renal ultrasonography or noncontrast computed tomography. Success was defined as stone-free status or residual fragments <3 mm. The use of auxiliary procedures was considered to indicate treatment failure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 17 patients were included in the present study (3 females and 14 males). Their age was 16-52 years (mean age ± SD 34.7 ± 6.3). The HSK stone location was 7 mixed caliceal, 3 mixed pelvic and caliceal, and 7 pelvic. The average stone burden was 16 mm (range 7-35). The overall number of procedures was 25 (mean 1.5 procedures/patient). Of the 17 patients, 15 (88.2%) were rendered stone free.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of our study have shown that F-URS with the holmium laser is an efficient minimal invasive procedure for treating HSK stones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tenon University Hospital, Pierre and Marie Curie University, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Molimard
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Qahtani
authors.forename: Amine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lakmichi
authors.forename: Majed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sejiny
authors.forename: Sixtina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gil-Diez de Medina
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Carpentier
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Traxer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006695:Holmium; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000628:therapy*; D007834:Lasers; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017602:Lithotripsy, Laser / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018666:Ureteroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006695:Holmium