Lasertripsy for Ureteral Stones: 100 Clinical Cases

The pulsed-dye laser has proved to be an effective and safe method of treating ureteral stones; 100 cases have been treated, and lasertripsy was successful in 85%. The failures were due to mobile stones inadvertently flushed back into the kidney (13%) or failed ureteroscopic access (2%). Only two patients required an open ureterolithotomy after failure of less invasive treatments. Guidance of the laser fiber onto the stone was performed by rigid ureteroscopy (95%) or by a radiopaque catheter under fluoroscopic and acoustic control (5%). Ureteroscopic delivery proved to be the more efficient.