[Pulsed lasers in the treatment of urinary calculi]

Intracorporeal lithotripsy of urinary calculi by pulsed dye laser recently enriched the urologist's therapeutic arsenal. We recall the in vitro studies and animal experimentations which demonstrated the feasibility of laser lithotripsy and the absence of harmful tissue damage. The ideal indications for intracorporeal lithotripsy are ureteral stones accessible by rigid and, more especially, flexible ureteroscopy. The results of the first published series using this technique are very encouraging.