title: Laser and pneumatic lithotripsy in the endoscopic management of large ureteric stones: a comparative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We compared the results of holmium laser and pneumatic intracorporeal lithotripsy for large ureteric calculi in terms of efficacy, safety and complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted between April 2009 and October 2010. 80 patients divided into two equally matched groups were included in a prospective randomized trial including patients with a ureteric stone size of 0.5-2 cm. A holmium laser with a 550-μm fiber was employed in the laser lithotripsy (LL) group. The Swiss Lithoclast was used in the pneumatic lithotripsy (PL) group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean stone size was comparable in both groups, namely 13.1 mm in the PL group and 12.9 mm in the LL group. The early stone-free rate was equal in both groups, while the delayed stone-free rate was 95% in LL and 85% in PL. Stone migration occurred in 12 PL cases and in 5 LL cases. Ureteric perforation occurred in 3 LL cases and in 2 PL cases. Ureteric stricture occurred in 1 case following LL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both PL and LL are effective and safe modalities in treating large ureteric stones with minor insignificant differences. A pneumatic system may be more efficient with regard to the cost-benefit ratio, which was not studied in the present work; further studies should address this issue.
authors.affiliation: Kasr Al Aini Hospital, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ayman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kassem
authors.forename: Hany
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Elfayoumy
authors.forename: Wael
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Elsaied
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elgammal
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bedair
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D017602:Lithotripsy, Laser / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014514:Ureteral Calculi / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D018666:Ureteroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects