Urologic applications of the holmium laser: preliminary experience.

The holmium: YAG laser produces light of 2100 nm, which has tissue penetration of less than 0.5 mm. The energy can be delivered endoscopically with a low water-content quartz fiber and can fragment all types of calculi and ablate tissue, both neoplasms and strictures. Application of this laser in 43 procedures in 37 patients demonstrated its safety and effectiveness for these different applications throughout the urinary tract.