Use of the holmium:YAG laser for the impacted stone basket.

PURPOSE

During ureteroscopic basketing of ureteral calculi a stone may become engaged in the basket and the basket impacted in the ureter. We describe an endoscopic technique of managing the impacted basket and stone.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The ureteroscope is back loaded off of the basket, and passed into the ureter beside the basket and stone. The holmium:YAG laser is used to irradiate a basket wire, fracturing the wire and releasing the stone. The basket is removed and the stone managed by holmium:YAG lithotripsy.

RESULTS

We successfully treated 3 consecutive patients with this technique. No injuries were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The holmium:YAG laser may be used to free an impacted stone basket containing a ureteral calculus.