Intracorporeal lithotripsy: Which modality is best?

Current Opinion in Urology

Volumn 13, Issue 3, 2003, Pages 249-253

  Leveillee, Raymond J ^a   Lobik, Leonid ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI MILLER SCHOOL OF MEDICINE   (United States)

Author keywords

Calculi; Endoscopic lithotripsy; Laser fibers; Ureteroscopy

Indexed keywords

ENDOSCOPIC SURGERY; ERBIUM YAG LASER; HOLMIUM LASER; HUMAN; INTRACORPOREAL LITHOTRIPSY; LITHOTRIPSY; PRIORITY JOURNAL; REVIEW; ULTRASOUND; URETEROSCOPY; UROLITHIASIS;

HUMANS; KIDNEY CALCULI; LITHOTRIPSY; PROSPECTIVE STUDIES; SAFETY; TREATMENT OUTCOME;

EID: 0038741727     PISSN: 09630643     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1097/00042307-200305000-00014     Document Type: Review

References (19)

1. Noor Buchholz N.P. Intracorporeal lithotripters: selecting the optimum machine. BJU Int 2002; 89:157-161.
2. Adreoni C, Afane J, Olweny E, Clayman RV. Flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy: first line therapy for proximal ureteral and renal calculi in the morbidly obese and superobese patient. J Endourol 2001; 15:493-498.
3. Auge BK, Lallas CD, Pietrow PK, et al. In vitro comparison of standard ultrasound and pneumatic lithotrites with a new combination intracorporeal lithotripsy device. Urology 2002; 60:28-32. The authors utilized a phantom stone model to assess the efficiency of pneumatic, ultrasonic, and combination lithotripters. They found the combination device to be faster and yielded smaller fragments than the other two. They concluded that the combination device may be the ideal treatment for the expeditious removal of large renal or bladder calculi.
4. Hofmann R, Olbert P, Weber J, et al. Clinical experience with a new ultrasonic and LithoClast combination for percutaneous litholapaxy. BJU Int 2002; 90:16-20.
5. Liatsikos EN, Dinlenc GZ, Fogarty JD, et al. Efficiency and efficacy of different intracorporeal units on a synthetic stone model. J Endourol 2001; 15:925-929. This article describes an in-vitro stone model to compare the fragmentation time and efficiency of four commercially available ultrasonic lithotripters.
6. Haupt G, Sabrodina N, Orlovsky M, et al. Endoscopic lithotripsy with a new device combining ultrasound and Lithoclast. J Endourol 2001; 15:929-932. This paper reports the initial clinical utility of a 'new' combination pneumatic and ultrasonic lithotripter. The authors conclude that the combination of the two counteracts the weakness of each method when used separately. However, each modality can be used independently for hard stones that are free floating; the combination of suction, ultrasonic disintegration and pneumatic impaction assists with retropulsion.
7. Gurbuz ZG, Gonen M, Fazlioglu A, Akbulut H. Ureteroscopy and pneumatic lithotripsy, followed by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for the treatment of distal ureteral stones. Int J Urol 2002; 9:441-445.
8. Hofmann R, Weber J, Heidenreich A, Olbert P. Experimental studies and first clinical experience with a new Lithoclast and ultrasound combination for lithotripsy. Eur Urol 2002; 42:376-381.
9. Teichman JMH. Laser lithotripsy. Curr Opin Urol 2002; 12:305-309.
10. Chan KF, Pfefer TJ, Teichman JMN, Welch AJ. A perspective on laser lithotripsy: the fragmentation process. J Endourol 2001; 15:257-272. This article provides an extremely thorough summary of relevant basic science parameters regarding laser lithotripsy of current (experimental and clinical) laser lithotripsy devices. A must read.
11. Chan KF, Ho Lee, Teichman JMN, et al. Erbium:YAG laser lithotripsy mechanism. J Urol 2002; 168:436-441. These innovators tested the mechanism of action of a new wavelength (425 μm) long pulse erbium:YAG laser beam for application in lithotripsy and determined that its mechanism of action is photothermal. Acoustic transients had minimal effects on calculus fragmentation. Based upon vapor bubble dynamics the authors speculate reasons for less potential tissue damage with erbium:YAG as compared with other laser wavelengths.
12. Zorcher T, Hochberger J, Schrott KM, et al. In vitro study concerning the efficiency of the frequency-doubled double-pulse neodymium:YAG laser (FREDDY) for lithotripsy of calculi in the urinary tract. Lasers Surg Med 1999; 25:38-42.
13. Chan KF, Vassar GJ, Pfefer TJ, et al. Holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy: a dominant photothermal ablative mechanism with chemical decomposition of urinary calculi. Lasers Surg Med 1999; 25:22-37.
14. Watterson JD, Girvan AR, Cook AJ, et al. Safety and efficacy of holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy in patients with bleeding diathesis. J Urol 2002; 168:442-445. In this study a retrospective chart review was performed including patients with uncorrected bleeding diatheses (warfarin sodium, liver dysfunction, thrombocytopenia, and von Willebrand's disease) who had upper urinary tract calculi treated with ureteroscopy and holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy at two university hospitals. The overall stone free rate was 96%. Only one patient (who was also treated with electrohydraulic lithotripsy) developed significant bleeding requiring transfusion. The authors conclude that ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy without correction of hemostatic parameters limits risks of thromboemboric complications and reduces costs.
15. Sofer M, Watterson JD, Wollin TA, et al. Holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy for upper urinary tract calculi in 596 patients. J Urol 2002; 167:31-34. In this study, which is the largest series of patients treated with holmium laser lithotripsy to date, the safety and efficacy are demonstrated. Success from a single procedure was 84% for renal and greater than 90% for ureteral calculi, with few significant complications.
16. Watterson JD, Girvan AR, Beiko DT, et al. Ureteroscopy and holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy: an emerging definitive management strategy for symptomatic ureteral calculi in pregnancy. Urology 2002; 60:283-287.
17. Bagley DH. Expanding role of ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy for treatment of proximal ureteral and intrarenal calculi. Curr Opin Urol 2002; 12:277-260. This is an excellent review article highlighting recent publications describing the overall usefulness of utilizing small flexible ureteroscopes, more effective grasping devices and holmium laser lithotripsy for the treatment of ureteral and selected intrarenal calculi, including those located in the lower pole of the kidney.
18. Lam JS, Greene TD, Gupta M. Treatment of proximal ureteral calculi: holmium:YAG laser ureterolithotripsy versus extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. J Urol 2002; 167:1972-1976.
19. El-Anany FG, Hammouda HM, Maghraby HA, Elakkad MA. Retrograde ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy for large renal calculi. BJU Int 2001; 88:850-853.