Clinical Experience with a new Pulsed Dye Laser for Ureteral Stone Lithotripsy

We treated 45 patients (46 ureteral stones) with a new pulsed dye laser. A 250 mu. fiber was used through a rigid (40 stones) or flexible (6) ureteroscope. Stones were in the upper (5 cases), middle (5) or lower (36) third of the ureter. Stone composition was calcium oxalate dihydrate (34 patients) or monohydrate (7), struvite (2) or uric acid (2). Of the calculi 36 (78%) were fragmented, including 14 that also required simultaneous basket removal of fragments. Ten stones were not fragmented: 6 because of the pure monohydrate composition and 4 due to malfunction of the laser. No damage to the ureteral wall was noted. Retrograde rigid ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy was effective for lower and middle third ureteral stones. Flexible ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy was effective (impacted stones) but difficult for upper third ureteral stones.