Thulium Fibre Laser versus Holmium:YAG for Ureteroscopic Lithotripsy: Outcomes from a Prospective Randomised Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND: Holmium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Ho:YAG) laser is the gold standard for ureterorenoscopic (URS) lithotripsy. Thulium fibre laser (TFL) has recently been introduced as a new technology and may challenge Ho:YAG as the preferred laser owing to favourable properties as demonstrated in preclinical studies. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare outcomes after URS lithotripsy with Ho:YAG and TFL. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In a prospective randomised trial, patients aged ≥18 yr with ureteral and/or renal stones (≥5 mm) scheduled to undergo day-case URS lithotripsy were invited to participate. In total, 120 consecutively admitted patients with signed consent were included for randomisation. INTERVENTION: URS lithotripsy with Ho:YAG or TFL. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: test. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: After a single session, the SFR was 67% in the Ho:YAG group and 92% in the TFL group, p = 0.001. For ureteral stones, the SFR was 100% in both groups, and for renal stones; 49% (Ho:YAG) and 86% (TFL), p = 0.001. Operative time was shorter using TFL (49 min) compared to Ho:YAG (57 min), p = 0.008. Bleeding that impaired the endoscopic view was the most frequent intraoperative adverse event and occurred in 13 patients (22%) in the Ho:YAG group and three (5%) in the TFL group, p = 0.014. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, significantly more patients with renal stones achieved stone-free status and fewer experienced intraoperative complications using TFL compared to Ho:YAG. TFL is the emerging laser of choice for stone lithotripsy. PATIENT SUMMARY: We compared outcomes after ureterorenoscopic treatment of kidney and ureteral stones using two different lasers. Our results show that the new thulium fibre laser technology is superior to the current standard laser (holmium:YAG) in clearing kidney stones and reducing operative complications.