Comparison of Holmium Laser and Pneumatic Lithotripsy in Managing Ureteral Calculi:Report of 1035 Cases / 中国微创外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To compare the efficacy of HolmiumYAG laser and pneumatic lithotripsy in the treatment of ureteral calculi.Methods From February 2002 to February 2007,totally 1035 patients with ureteral calculi underwent ureteroscopic lithotripsy with HolmiumYAG laser or pneumatic lithotripsy in our hospital.The data of the patients were analyzed retrospectively.Results The success rate of primary lithotripsy was 99.1%(328/331)in the patients received holmium laser,and 97.6%(687/704)in those who underwent pneumatic lithoclast(?2=2.703,P=0.100).Stone-free rate at 3 weeks was 98.2%(322/328)in the Holmium laser group,which was significantly higher than that in the pneumatic lithoclast group 88.1%(605/687),?2=28.639,P=0.000].However,significantly more ureteroscopes were damaged in the Holmium laser group than the pneumatic lithoclast group(11 vs 6,?2=8.509,P=0.004).Conclusions The stone-free rate in holmium laser group is higher than that in pneumatic lithoclast group.However,more ureteroscopes are damaged by holmium laser.