title: Ho:Yag laser for sialolithiasis of Wharton's duct.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the feasibility of intracorporeal lithotripsy with holmium YAG laser under sialoendoscopic guidance for sialolithiasis of Wharton's duct.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series with planned data collection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted on 16 patients with sialolithiasis of Wharton's duct. Diagnosis was confirmed at ultrasound examination. Patients with stones ranging from 5 to 8 mm in diameter were enrolled in the study. The selected patients underwent intracorporeal lithotripsy with holmium Yag laser under endoscopic control. Debris was removed using sialoendoscopic forceps or a wire basket during the same procedure. After a 3-month follow-up, radiological tests were rerun.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stone fragmentation was possible in all cases. All patients experienced a regular postoperative course. Postoperative ultrasound examinations revealed residual stones in 3 patients, 1 of whom was asymptomatic. Three patients complained of residual symptoms after 3 months of follow-up. These patients were treated successfully during a second sialoendoscopic procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our experience, endoscopic laser lithotripsy was proved to be a feasible technique for Wharton's duct lithiasis in clinical practice.
authors: Department of Surgical Biotechnologies and Science, ENT Section Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. salvomartello@live.it
authors: Salvatore
authors: S
authors: Martellucci
authors: Giulio
authors: G
authors: Pagliuca
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: de Vincentiis
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Greco
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Fusconi
authors: Armando
authors: A
authors: De Virgilio
authors: Camilla
authors: C
authors: Gallipoli
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Gallo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004724:Endoscopy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State; D017602:Lithotripsy, Laser / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018987:Salivary Ducts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015494:Salivary Gland Calculi / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography