ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the clinical effect of ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy for the treatment of ureteral calculus.Methods A total of 72 cases of ureteral calculus was treated with stone fragmentation from April to November 2004,by using the Lumenis VersaPulse PowerSuite 100W Holmium Laser system and the Circon ACMI Micro Ureteroscope.Under ureteroscopic visualization,the laser lithotrite was introduced to the stones,and holmium laser intraluminal stone fragmentation was carried out. Results The operation time was 14~83 min(mean,28 min).Three cases of fragmentation failure were due to upper ureteral stones migrating to the renal pelvis.The success rate of fragmentation on one session was 95.8%(69/72),which was 92.1%(35/38) for upper segment calculi and 100%(34/34) for middle-to-lower segment calculi.Intraoperative complications included 3 cases of ureteral perforation(4.2%),9 cases of stone migration(12.5%),and 72 cases of hematuria(100%).Postoperative complications included 45 cases of lumbago(62.5%),72 cases of hematuria(100%),and 5 cases of urinary tract infection(6.9%), without ureteral stricture.The kidney,ureter,and bladder(KUB) X-ray radiograph on the first postoperative day showed a stone-free rate of 86.1%(62/72),and the remaining residual stones were thoroughly expelled within following 2 weeks.The length of postoperative hospital stay was 2~5 d(mean,3 d).Re-examinations with B-ultrasonography or intravenous urography(IVU) at 3 months after operation in 46 cases revealed no ureteral stricture.Hydronephrosis subsided by 1.4?0.5 cm in 28 cases and completely disappeared in 21 cases.Conclusions Ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy for treating ureteral calculus offers satisfactory clinical effects and low complication rates.