[Rigid ureteroscopy and the pulsed laser. Apropos of 325 treated calculi]

A pulsed dye laser (Candela) was used in our lithiasis treatment center during the period 02/88-09/89 to remove 325 calculi in 278 patients, requiring 285 endoscopic instrumentations. The pulsed laser allowed to obtain fragmentation of 318 calculi, 238 of which were reduced to thin sand and 80 to coarser fragments. The latter were either cleared using a Dormia probe or further disintegrated by electrohydrolytic shock wave treatment or extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). No complication imputable to laser stone fragmentation was noted. Failure of stone clearance was chiefly due to the nature and shape of the stone (black, smooth monohydrated calcium oxalate calculi). The thinness of the laser fiber has made it possible to use small caliber ureteroscopes, thereby increasing the reliability of ureteroscopy. Coupled with ESWL (EDAP LT01), this technique has caused the rate of open surgical removal of ureter confined calculi to fall from 11% to 1%.