[Treatment of ureteral lithiasis using the laser]

A review of the history of lasertripsy from continuous to intermittent Nd:YAG, Alexandrite, or liquid-dye laser is undertaken. Certain calculi require intraureteral fragmentation owing to stone hardness or location. Within a period spanning 20 months, we have treated 350 patients (199 males, 151 females) utilizing dye laser through a very fine caliber 7.5 F ureteroscope. Twenty-six had bilateral calculi. The calculi were located in the upper third in 10% (37), middle third in 25% (93), and lower third in 65% (241). Complete fragmentation was achieved in 341 (93%), push up + ESWL was performed in 24 (6.4%), and two calculi (0.6%) required ultrasonic fragmentation. No patient required surgery and there were no severe complications.