Potential applications of the erbium:YAG laser in endourology.

The holmium:YAG laser has become the laser of choice in endourology because of its multiple applications in the fragmentation of kidney stones, incision of strictures, and coagulation of tumors. This paper describes the potential use of a new laser, the erbium:YAG laser, for applications in endourology. Recent studies suggest that the Er:YAG laser may be superior to the Ho:YAG laser for precise ablation of strictures with minimal peripheral thermal damage and for more efficient laser lithotripsy. The Er:YAG laser cuts urethral and ureteral tissues more precisely than does the Ho:YAG laser, leaving a residual peripheral thermal damage zone of 30 +/- 10 microm compared with 290 +/- 30 microm for the Ho:YAG laser. This result may be important in the treatment of strictures, where residual thermal damage may induce scarring and result in stricture recurrence. The Er:YAG laser may represent an alternative to the cold knife and Ho:YAG laser in applications where minimal mechanical and thermal insult to tissue is required.