What is Laser Lithotripsy?
Laser lithotripsy uses a laser that is mounted on the end of a fiber optic scope. The scope is inserted into the patient’s body through the urethra and bladder up to the ureter. Once the scope is advanced to the level of the stone, the laser is turned on and the stone is pulverized. The holmium YAG laser offer advantages over previous types of lasers. Lasers for lithotripsy were first used in the late 1980’s but were limited in power by the diameter of the fiber used. Larger fibers meant more power, but they were more rigid and less suited to the environment which demanded flexibility and freedom of movement. The YAG holmium also is capable of producing smaller stone fragments than previous laser treatments. This method is rapidly replacing traditional lithotripsy for the removal of kidney stones. The advantages of laser surgery over traditional lithotripsy are that there is a higher first time rate of success with laser surgery than with traditional lithotripsy methods and the laser i
