Comparison of 2 Pulsed Lasers for Lithotripsy of Ureteral Calculi: Report on 154 Patients

Abstract

Extracorporeal lithotripsy does not always provide satisfactory results for the treatment of ureteral stones. Such cases appear to be excellent indications for endocorporeal lithotripsy based on an association of ureteroscopy and laser. To compare the performances of 2 pulsed lasers, the pulsed dye laser (Candela) and solid Q switched laser (HMT), for the treatment of these calculi 161 ureteral stones were treated successively from November 1990 to March 1992 by a combination of ureteroscopy and laser. Endocorporeal lithotripsy was performed in 102 cases with the Candela laser, in 47 with the HMT laser and in 7 with both lasers. With a stable success rate greater than 90%, both lasers demonstrated equivalent performances regardless of the location of the stone along the ureter. However, while stone fragmentation was more rapid with the Candela laser, the HMT laser appeared to be more effective for dark stones (monohydrate calcium oxidate).