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.