SOFT-TISSUE APPLICATIONS OF THE HOLMIUM-YAG LASER IN UROLOGY

The holmium:YAG laser possesses both ablative and hemostatic propertie s and in preliminary clinical use has demonstrated many potential urol ogic applications. We review our initial experience in treating a vari ety of soft-tissue lesions of the urinary tract with this laser. A tot al of 51 patients underwent 53 procedures including superficial bladde r tumor ablation (25), incision of ureteral stricture (15), incision o f urethral stricture (6), relief of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (3), incision of bladder neck contracture (2), and ureteral tumor abl ation (2). Procedures were considered successful, with no further inte rvention or alternative energy source required, in 81% of the cases. T he laser demonstrated precise hemostatic cutting and warrants further investigation as a multipurpose urologic laser.