Clinical Contrast Research on Treatment of Upper Ureteral Stones with Holmium Laser and Pneumatic Lithotripsy

Objective To evaluate the difference of clinical efficacy of holmium laser and pneumatic lithotripsy for upper ureteral calculi. Methods 180 patients with upper ureter calculi were selected in this study, including 87 cases of pneumatic lithotripsy (control group), and 93 cases of ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy (treatment group). The surgical procedures, the stone free rate, the stone free rate after one month, the operation time and the hospital stay of two groups were recorded and compared, and statistical analysis was carried out. Results The free stone rate of treatment group after lithotrity was 88.2%, while 77.0% in control group, the difference was significant (P 0.05). The operation time of the holmium laser group was significantly shorter than that of the pneumatic lithotripter group (P 0.05), and there was no significant difference in the hospital stay between the two groups (P 0.05). The free stone rate of treatment group after one month was 95.7%, and 86.2% in control group, with statistically significant difference(P 0.05). Conclusions Holmium laser lithotripsy is safer and more effective than pneumatic lithotripsy in the treatment of upper ureteral calculi.