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Published on: March 6, 2018
Holmium: YAG laser damage to ureteral guidewire
G S Freiha1, D H King, J M Teichman
1Division of Urology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, USA.
Abstract:
The holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (holmium:YAG) laser effectively fragments urinary calculi of all compositions. Complications have been minimal and mostly attributable to the ureteroscopy as opposed to the laser. We report a case in which the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coating of a ureteral guidewire was broken with the holmium:YAG laser and remained in the collecting system after the guidewire was removed postoperatively. The patient required cystoscopy to remove the guidewire coating.
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