Clinical Comparison of Super Pulse Thulium Fiber Laser and High-Power Holmium Laser for Ureteral Stone Management

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of new super pulse thulium fiber laser (SP TFL) and compare it with holmium laser for ureterolithotripsy. Patients and Methods: A total of 174 patients with solitary ureteral calculi were enrolled in 2016 to 2018. Stone sizes ranged between 0.6 and 2.4 cm. The SP TFL FiberLase U2 and 120H Ho:YAG laser with fibers diameters of 400 and 365 μm, respectively, were used. The laser settings were 1 J × 10 Hz = 10 W for both devices. All patients were randomized into two groups. The age, stone size, location, and density were comparable in both groups. The evaluated parameters were operation time, endoscopic view quality, retropulsion grade, stone-free rate, and complication rate. Results: The total operation time and lasering time were longer in the Ho:YAG group (24.7 ± 0.7 minutes vs 32.4 ± 0.7 minutes, p = 0.05), and postoperative stenting was necessary in one vs four cases, respectively. At 30 days of follow-up, no residual stones were observed in the SP TFL group (vs five cases of Ho:YAG). Conclusion: SP TFL technology was associated with excellent efficacy/safety ratio. The SP TFL may be considered as a viable alternative to Ho:YAG laser stone management.

Keywords: Ho:YAG laser; lithotripsy; super pulse thulium fiber laser (SP TFL); ureteral stone; ureteroscopy.