Comparison of Holmium:YAG laser and pneumatic lithotripsy in treatment of upper-ureteral calculi

Objective:To compare the efficacy and safety of Holmium:YAG laser and pneumatic lithotripsy in the treatment of upper-ureteral calculi.Methods:The clinical data of 317 patients with upper-ureteral calculi who had undergone ureteroscopic lithotripsy with Holmium:YAG laser or pneumatic lithotripter from June 2007 to June 2010 were analyzed retrospectively and the efficacy and safety were compared.Results:The one-time success rate was 96.5% in the holmium laser group and 86.1% in the pneumatic lithotripter group.The difference was significant(P0.01).The operation time of the holmium laser group was significantly shorter than that of the pneumatic lithotripter group(P0.05),and there was no significant difference in the hospital stay between the two groups(P0.05).All the cases were reviewed by kidney ureter bladder plain 3 days after lithotripsy.The stone-free rate was 98.8 % in the Holmium laser group and 92.7% in the pneumatic lithotripter group.The difference was significant(P0.05).Ureteral perforation occurred in 3 cases in the pneumatic lithotripsy group.Conclusions:Holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy is superior to pneumatic lithotripsy in treatment of upper-ureteral calculi.