Holmium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser with Moses: does it make a difference?

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Laser technology
• Surgical innovation

Background:

• The Moses effect is a fundamental principle of Holmium YAG (Ho:YAG) laser operation.
• Moses Technology is a specific pulse modulation technique for Ho:YAG lasers used in urology.
• This technology is applied to treat conditions like urinary stones and benign prostatic obstruction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To differentiate between the Moses effect and Moses Technology.
• To review the current evidence on Moses Technology in urological applications.
• To assess its efficacy in laser lithotripsy and prostate enucleation.

Main Methods:

• Narrative review of existing literature.
• Analysis of laboratory and clinical studies on Moses Technology.
• Comparison with standard Ho:YAG laser techniques.

Main Results:

• Laboratory studies suggest Moses Technology may reduce stone retropulsion and increase ablation volume.
• Clinical studies on prostate enucleation indicate potential for reduced operating time and improved hemostasis.
• However, some studies show no significant difference compared to standard lasers, and limitations/biases exist.

Conclusions:

• While the Moses effect is well-understood, robust clinical evidence supporting significant improvements in surgical outcomes with Moses Technology is still lacking.
• Further high-quality research is needed to validate the clinical benefits of Moses Technology in urological procedures.