LASER LITHOTRIPSY FOR URETERAL CALCULI - RESULTS IN 250 PATIENTS

Two hundred and fifty patients with 290 stones presenting to the Depar tment of Urology were treated with the Candela MDL 2000(TM) Laser Lith otripter. Overall stone clearance rate was 95%. The more proximal the calculus the lower the success rate. Ninety eight percent of stones in the lower ureter, 95% of mid ureteric and 91% of upper ureteric stone s were cleared. The major complication was perforation which occurred in 6% of cases. This procedure is a safe and effective treatment for u reteric calculi and is associated with a low complication rate and a h igh clearance rate. Laser lithotripsy is the optimum ureteroscopic met hod of treating ureteric calculi and is complimentary to extra corpore al shock wave lithotripsy.