Treatment of ureteral stones: A prospective randomized controlled trial on comparison of Ho:YAG laser and pneumatic lithotripsy

Incidence of Ureteric strictures Following Ureteroscopic Laser Lithotripsy: Holmium:YAG Versus Thulium Fiber Laser

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to compare the incidence of ureteric strictures between holmium:yttrium aluminum garnet and thulium fiber laser following ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy. In the present era of miniaturization of endourologic armamentarium and better optics, how safe are lasers to fire inside ureter?

MATERIALS AND METHODS

It is a prospective comparative study over a period of 2 years that included patients who underwent ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy for ureteric stones. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: group A underwent holmium:yttrium aluminum garnet laser lithotripsy and group B underwent thulium fiber laser lithotripsy.

RESULTS

A total of 478 patients were analyzed after excluding patients not willing to participate and patients lost to follow-up. Two hundred forty patients underwent holmium:yttrium aluminum garnet laser lithotripsy (group A) and 238 patients underwent thulium fiber laser lithotripsy (group B). The demographic data of 2 groups were comparable. The mean age of patients in group A and group B was 36.5 ± 12.52 years and 38.62 ± 10.71 years, respectively. The mean operative time in group A and group B was 47 ± 15 and 36 ± 13 minutes, respectively, while the mean laser time in group A and group B was 13.5 ± 45 minutes and 9.25 ± 3.2 minutes, respectively. Four (1.67%) patients in group A and 11 (4.62%) patients in group B developed ureteric strictures during follow-up, and the difference was statistically significant (P <.001). The mean length of stricture was 2.67 ± 1.27 cm in group A and 4.42 ± 2.2 cm in group B, and the difference was statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Thulium fiber laser, projected as safe laser previously, has a higher incidence of ureteric strictures compared to holmium:yttrium aluminum garnet laser when used for ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy.

A meta-analysis and systematic review of holmium laser treatment of bladder stones

Background

Holmium lasers have been used to treat bladder stones and achieve good therapeutic effects, but its efficacy remains to be explored.

Methods

The PubMed, Embase, Medline, Ovid, Springer, and Web of Sciences databases were searched from their establishment to December 31, 2020. Studies of randomized control trials (RCTs) examining the treatment of vesical calculi by holmium laser lithotripsy were identified. The Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Intervention 5.0.2 was used to assess risk bias, and Rev Man5.3 was used to conduct the meta-analysis.

Results

A total of 10 studies, comprising 1,642 subjects, were included. The meta-analysis results showed that the surgery time and the hospitalization time of patients treated with holmium laser lithotripsy decreased, and the calculus removal rate increased. The experimental group had a lower incidence of adverse reactions, such as postoperative urinary tract infection, mucosal damage, vesical perforation, residual calculi, hematuria, and abdominal pain than the control group; however, no notable difference was observed in relation to surgery time, hospital stay, the calculus removal rate, mucosal damage, bladder perforation, hematuria, and abdominal pain between the 2 groups.

Discussion

Holmium laser lithotripsy significantly reduced the hospitalization time of patients treated with holmium laser lithotripsy and elevated the removal rate.

The utility of instruments and disposables during endourologic practice among Egyptian urologists

Objective:

We aimed to investigate the prevalence of utilization of different endourological instruments and disposables among Egyptian urologists and to see how availability could affect the deviation from the universal standards that might result in reduced patient safety.

Patients and method:

We surveyed members of the Egyptian Urological Association by a questionnaire evaluating the importance of different instruments and disposables used during ureteroscopy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy. All responses were collected by a commercially available Internet-based survey host ( www.surveymonkey.com ) over 8 weeks.

Results:

One hundred and fifty-two responses were received. For ureteroscopy, the most mandatory instruments and disposables included the C-arm device (83%), Dormia basket (61%), ureteral stone forceps (58%), pneumatic lithotripter (50%), and regular PTFE guide wire (49%). The instruments and disposables described as optional included 4.5 Fr ureteroscope (74%), flexible ureteroscope (70%), and hydrophilic guidewire (67%). For percutaneous nephrolithotomy, the most mandatory instruments and disposables were pneumatic lithotripter (78%), Alken metal dilator (75%), fascial dilator (45%), and regular PTFE guidewire (42%); while instruments and disposables described as optional included flexible cystoscope (70%), hydrophilic guidewire (67%), balloon dilator (57%), and laser machine (52%).

Conclusion:

The prevalence of the utilization of newly introduced instruments and disposables is low among Egyptian urologists.

Urinary lithiasis: evaluation of the use of laser vs. Pneumatic ureteral lithotripsy

The Guidelines Project, an initiative of the Brazilian Medical Association, aims to combine information from the medical field in order to standardize producers to assist the reasoning and decision-making of doctors. The information provided through this project must be assessed and criticized by the physician responsible for the conduct that will be adopted, depending on the conditions and the clinical status of each patient.

Laser Versus Pneumatic Lithotripsy With Semi-Rigid Ureteroscope; A Comparative Randomized Study

Introduction: Ureteral stones are among the most common disorders in the urologic field. Miniaturization of endoscopic devices in urology and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) has revolutionized the management of ureteral stones. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and results of laser versus pneumatic lithotripsy (PL) with semi-rigid ureteroscope in a randomized prospective clinical trial in removing stones. Methods: 117 adult patients underwent transurethral lithotripsy (TUL) in a single academic center and by a single surgeon. The patients were randomized in 2 groups: In group 1, 58 patients with ureteral stones underwent ureteroscopy and stone fragmentation was done by Ho: YAG laser lithotripsy (LL) and in group 2, 59 patients underwent PL (Swiss LithoClast) by using the same ureteroscope. Results: Mean age was 41.77 years and 41.1years in group one and 2 respectively (P=0.79), there was no significant difference in male to female ratio and mean stone in both groups. The success rate for stone clearance was 79.31% and 77.96% in group 1 and 2 respectively (P=0.52). No difference between complications was seen in both groups, but the duration of operations was different (significantly lower in group 2). Conclusion: In both techniques, acceptable results were achieved. We have found a significant statistical difference in duration of operation between our results (P=0.001) and similar studies, while this was shorter in the pneumatic group in our study, it was longer in other similar ones. This might be a result of more experience in working with PL in our center.

Role of lasers in urology

Laser technology has long been a standard treatment for many diseases. In particular, laser treatment is considered the standard of care in various urological diseases. While originally primarily restricted to stone treatment, lasers have since evolved to play an important role even in the treatment of malignant diseases. In this review, we take a closer look at the history of lasers in urology and some implications for treatments today.

Laser Application in Iran Urology: A Narrative Review

The usage of laser in medicine is not recent, and its history in urology goes back to 40 years ago. For the last 2 decades, common uses of laser have been treatments of subjects with urolithiasis, bladder tumors, benign prostatic enlargement, lesions of the genitalia and urinary tract strictures. To evaluate laser application in urology in Iran, we reviewed all of the Iranian literature on the topic. This study was designed to retrieve all studies on laser application in urology in Iran, regardless of publication status or language, covering years 1990-2017. Twenty-six articles were identified: 12 about urolithiasis, 8 about benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), 2 case reports, 1 paper about prostate cancer, 1 on female urethral stricture, 1 review and 1 basic sciences study. We conclude that the use of this technology has not yet found its position in Iran, especially in the field of urology. The main causes for it are the difficult accessibility and disturb of laser devices and its accessories, as well as the lack of adequate knowledge of the medical community about this modality.

CUA Guideline: Management of ureteral calculi

The focus of this guideline is the management of ureteral stones. Specifically, the topics covered include: conservative management, medical expulsive therapy, active intervention with either shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) or ureteroscopy (URS), factors affecting SWL treatment success, optimizing success, and special considerations (e.g., pregnancy, urinary diversion). By performing extensive literature reviews for each topic evaluated, we have generated an evidence-based consensus on the management of ureteral stones. The objective of this guideline is to help standardize the treatment of ureteral stones to optimize treatment outcomes.

Holmium: YAG laser lithotripsy versus pneumatic lithotripsy for treatment of distal ureteral calculi: a meta-analysis

The objective of this study was to estimate the treatment effect of Pneumatic Lithotripsy (PL) versus holmium: YAG laser lithotripsy (LL) in the treatment of distal ureteric calculi. A bibliographic search covering the period from 1990 to April 2012 was conducted using search engines such as MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane library. Data were extracted and analyzed with RevMan5.1 software. A total of 47 studies were scant, and 4 independent studies were finally recruited. Holmium: YAG LL conveyed significant benefits compared with PL in terms of early stone-free rate [odds ratio (OR)=4.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.14, 17.16), p=0.03], delayed stone-free rate [OR=4.42, 95%CI (1.58, 12.37), p=0.005], mean operative time [WMD=-16.86, 95%CI (-21.33, -12.39), p<0.00001], retaining double-J catheter rate [OR=0.44, 95%CI (0.25, 0.78), p=0.004], and stone migration incidence [OR=0.26, 95%CI (0.11, 0.62), p=0.003], but not yet in the postoperative hematuria rate and the ureteral perforation rate according to this meta-analysis. Precise estimates on larger sample size and trials of high quality may provide more uncovered outcomes in the future.