Clinical results of transurethral ureterolithotripsy using pulsed-dye laser: primary ureteral stones versus secondary ureteral stones after ESWL

Between September 1993 and December 1996, 138 patients underwent transurethral ureterolithotripsy (TUL) either as primary treatment or as a second-line therapy after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. In all patients, a semirigid 6.0 F ureteroscope was used. Lithotripsy was performed using a pulsed-dye laser. The overall success rate was 82.6%. The success rates according to the location of stones were as follows, 76.9% for stones in the upper ureter (U1), 96.0% for those in the midureter (U2), and 86.2% for those in the distal ureter (U3). In 68 patients treated with TUL as primary therapy, the success rate was 88.2% and efficiency quotient, which was modified for TUL was 0.75. Complications were rare: no ureteral perforations and no major bleeding occurred, but urosepsis developed in 2 patients. In conclusion, transurethral ureterolithotripsy using a small caliber ureteroscope with pulsed-dye laser is recommended as the primary treatment for mid- and distal ureteral stones, because of its superior success rate. In addition, for upper ureteral stones, laser tripsy is recommended as a helpful auxiliary procedure.