[Lasers in urology]

The objective of this article is to quote under the form of a document the opinions expressed by the participants of the round table "Lasers in Urology Today" (january 2006). The material and method used is the compilation of critical and updated notions on the usefulness of lasers in urology, supplemented by bibliographic references, a limited iconography. The results achieved by lasers today enable us to state that: Holmium laser is the choice treatment for in situ lithotripsy; however, it has not significantly improved previous results when treating urologic tumours and stenoses. Nowadays we have two types of lasers: KTP and HoL, which obtain results similar to surgery regarding BPH, but with reduced morbidity. The usefulness of laser in laparoscopic surgery is still under development.

Lasers in Urology Today play an active role in in situ lithotripsy (HoL), and a competitive one in BPH surgery (KTP and HoL). Regarding the rest of indications, i.e. tumours, stenoses, laparoscopic surgery, etc., further studies and enough follow-up times are still needed.