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Urologia - Volume 67, N. 1, 2000 © 2000 Editoriale Urologia, Treviso Use of pulsed dye-laser lithotripsy in the treatment of ureteral stones and its results M.A. Imamoglu, H. Bakirtas, O. Yigitbasi, H.Ersoy, N. Sertçelik Urology Clinic - S.S.K.Hospital - Ankara (Turkey) Abstract – Objective. To evaluate treatment alternatives for middle and lower ureter stones while giving information about our experience with pulsed dye-laser lithotripsy. Patients and method. Ureteroscopic lithotripsy was applied to 318 patients with ureter stones between April 1992-January 1999. We used Telemit Lithognost pulsed dye-laser. The energy used for fragmentation varied between 80-150 mjoule. In 7 patients laser lithotripsy was applied without ureteroscopy. Fragmentation of stones less than 3 mm in size that could be spontaneously eliminated was accepted as successful. Results. Total 412 stones, 14 of which bilateral, were treated in 318 patients. Average operation and hospitalisation time were 24.9 minutes and 2.3 days respectively.Stone-free rate was 90.24%. In 32 patients, 2 of whom had bilateral stones, fragmentation could not be achieved. No complication was observed due solely to dye-laser. All complications were due to ureterorenoscopy. Conclusion. Pulsed dye-laser lithotripsy is a reliable method that can be used with flexible ureteroscope and is more effective in stones less than 12 mm in size. Although it has a high success rate, its high cost is a disadvantage. Key Words: ureteral calculi - laser surgery - lithotripsy. |
