Intravesical holmium laser fragmentation and removal of a retained piece of tree branch from the urinary bladder of a young male

Abstract

BackgroundHolmium laser has been used primarily for lithotripsy, and on soft tissue and tumor. Its effect on wood has never been described in the literature. Here-in case we were able to successfully laser intravesical wood particles in a young male.Case presentationA 12-year-old boy was referred to our urology center following a history of recurrent urinary tract infection to which an intravesical foreign body was picked up upon investigation. Imaging studies of an abdominal ultrasound had revealed an intravesical foreign body. He was found to have a piece of wood in the bladder that was too big to be extracted through the cystoscope and was lasered into fragments.ConclusionOur case showed a more versatile use of the holmium laser and concluded that it can be used successfully on wood.