Laser lithotripsy: a nursing perspective

Laser lithotripsy represents the urologist's newest option in urinary stone management and is fast becoming the procedure of choice when treating calculi. Approximately 400,000 people yearly require treatment for urinary stone disease. 60% pass the calculi spontaneously while 40% require some type of intervention (Dretler, 1988). While the initial cost of the laser is expensive, maintenance cost is relativity low. Therefore, the laser lithotripter becomes a very cost effective tool when compared with other alternatives because of the decreased hospital stay and the absence of significant complications. Adverse effects to the patient are primarily due to the endoscopic procedure and not the laser itself. Additional benefits to the patient include reduced pain and edema, minimal bleeding, no incision and decreased convalescence time.