Clinical experience with a new pulsed dye laser for ureteral stone lithotripsy

Forty-five patients with 46 ureteral stones were treated using a new pulsed dye laser (Pulsolith, TMI). A fiber of 250 micrometers was used through rigid (40 cases) or flexible (6 cases) ureteroscopes. Stones were located in the upper third (5 cases), middle third (5 cases), or lower third (36 cases) of the ureter. Stone composition was calcium oxalate dihydrate or monohydrate, struvite, or uric acid in 34, 7, 2, and 2 patients, respectively. Thirty-six stones (78%) were fragmented, including 14 cases that required basket removal of fragments at the same time. Ten stones were not fragmented, 6 because of the pure monohydrate composition and 4 due to a laser breakdown. 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. Laser lithotripsy was not effective for pure calcium oxalate monohydrate stones.