Innovative use of the new pulsed-thulium: YAG laser for ureteroscopic lithotripsy: can the "kidney stone calculator" predict lithotripsy duration?

To assess the accuracy of Kidney Stone Calculator(KSC), a software designed for surgical planning, in predicting the duration of lithotripsy during flexible ureteroscopy(FURS) when using the novel pulsed-Thulium: YAG(p-Tm: YAG) laser. From February to August 2023, a single-center prospective study was conducted, including patients with kidney or ureteral stones through non-contrast computed tomography(NCCT), who underwent FURS with p-Tm: YAG laser lithotripsy. KSC used three-dimensional segmentation of the stones from NCCT images, along with an interactive user interface for laser settings, to estimate the stone volume(SV) and the lithotripsy duration(LD).

Thulium fiber laser versus pulsed Thulium:YAG for laser lithotripsy during flexible ureteroscopy.

To compare the pulsed-Thulium: YAG(p-Tm: YAG) and Thulium Fiber(TFL) lasers in terms of efficiency and safety profiles during flexible ureteroscopy(fURS) and endocorporeal laser lithotripsy(ELL). A prospective single-center open-label comparative study included consecutive patients with ureteral and renal stones who underwent fURS using Thulio(p-Tm: YAG, Dornier©,Germany) or TFL Drive(TFL, Coloplast©,Danemark), with 270 μm and 150/200μm laser fibers(LF), respectively. fURS were performed by a single operator in each group.

Pre-therapeutical assessment of lower urinary tract symptoms in adult men: Systematic Review and clinical practice guidelines.

Introduction: The aim was to propose initial and pre-therapeutical assessment of lower urinary tract symptoms in adult men through a systematic review and clinical practice guidelines Methods: These guidelines were based on a systematic review performed between January 2011 and November 2021 in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses criteria. The protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews database (CRD42022336418). The recommendations and the methodology of elaboration were prospectively validated by the French Health Authority (Haute Autorité de Santé - HAS).

The outcomes of robot-assisted surgery in the treatment of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunctions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: To assess the outcomes of robotic surgery for patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunctions (NLUTD).

Materials And Methods: Studies evaluating the outcomes (efficacy and safety) of robot-assisted ileal conduit creation or artificial urinary sphincter (R-AUS) implantation or augmentation cystoplasty or continent urinary diversion creation in patients with NLUTD were included. The search strategy and studies selection were performed on Medline, Embase and Cochrane using the PICOS method according to the PRISMA statement (PROSPERO 2022 CRD42022333157).

Management of ketamine cystitis: National guidelines from the French Association of Urology (CUROPF/CTMH).

Objective: The objective of the CUROPF and CTMH was to establish recommendations about ketamine induced uropathy management.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted on Pubmed/Medline by the members of the French committees of female urology and male lower urinary tract symptoms focusing on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of ketamine induced uropathy, evaluating references and level of evidence.

Results: Recommendations include epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of ketamine induced uropathy.

Comparison of Pulsed-Thulium:YAG, Holmium:YAG, and Thulium Fiber Laser.

To characterize the pulse characteristics and risk of fiber fracture (ROF) of the pulsed-Thulium:YAG (p-Tm:YAG) laser and to compare its ablation volumes (AVs) against Holmium:Yttrium-Aluminium-Garnet (Ho:YAG) laser and Thulium fiber laser (TFL). p-Tm:YAG (100 W-Thulio, Dornier-Medtech, Germany) was characterized using single-use 272 μm core-diameter-fibers. p-Tm:YAG characterization included pulse shape, duration, and peak power (PP) studies.

Comprehensive Approaches to Urolithiasis in Renal Transplants: A Narrative Review.

This review addresses the management of urolithiasis in renal transplant recipients, a notably vulnerable group due to the unique anatomical and physiological alterations of the transplanted organ. The prevalence of nephrolithiasis in these patients varies between 0.1% and 6.

Thulium Fiber Versus Holmium:Yttrium-aluminum-garnet Laser for Endoscopic Enucleation of the Prostate: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background And Objective: Thulium fiber laser (TFL) emerged as a competitor of holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Ho:YAG) laser for anatomic enucleation of the prostate (AEEP) in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) related to benign prostatic obstruction (BPO). The aim was to compare the surgical outcomes of Ho:YAG and TFL for AEEP.

Methods: A literature search was conducted to identify reports published from inception until January 2024.

Ureteroscopic management in cystinuric patients: long-term results from a tertiary care referral center.

Objective: To evaluate long-term surgical and functional outcomes of cystinuric patients exclusively treated with Ureteroscopy (URS).

Methods: Data from patients treated for cystine stones at a single academic center were retrospectively analyzed. The management protocol consisted of (i) treating symptomatic or > 7 mm stones, (ii) multi-staged URS for voluminous stones, (iii) referring patients to a dedicated nephrological clinic.

Ureteral stents: What your eyes can't see! An in vitro study.

Objectives: To characterize and compare in vitro the surfaces of ureteral stents (STENTS) before utilization.

Methods: Our in vitro experiment included six unused STENTS models: three double-pigtail with side orifices (ImaJin and Stenostent [Coloplast©,France], TriaSoft [BostonScientific©,USA]), two double-pigtail without side orifice (Vortek-TumorStent [Coloplast©,France], Urosoft-TumorStent [Bard-Angiomed©,Germany]) and one single-pigtail (J-Fil [Rocamed©,Monaco]). STENTS were made of polyurethane except for ImaJin (silicone).

Arterial pseudoaneurysm: a rare complication following laser lithotripsy-case series and literature review.

Objective: To perform a comprehensive narrative review that will examine the risk factors and treatment outcomes of arterial pseudoaneurysm following laser flexible ureteroscopy (F-URS).

Methods: A retrospective case series and a review of literature was performed. Clinical records from three patients treated for postoperative arterial pseudoaneurysm from January of 2021 to November 2023 were identified.

Is "Kidney Stone Calculator" efficient in predicting ureteroscopic lithotripsy duration? A holmium:YAG and thulium fiber lasers comparative analysis.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the ability of Kidney Stone Calculator (KSC), a flexible ureteroscopy surgical planning software, to predict the lithotripsy duration with both holmium:YAG (Ho:YAG) and thulium fiber laser (TFL).

Methods: A multicenter prospective study was conducted from January 2020 to April 2023. Patients with kidney or ureteral stones confirmed at non-contrast computed tomography and treated by flexible ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy were enrolled.

Overactive bladder negatively affects erectile function and promotes premature ejaculation: findings from large representative population-level study.

Purpose: The effect of overactive bladder (OAB) on sexual health has been evaluated extensively for women but much less for men. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between OAB and men's sexual activity and the effect of OAB on erectile dysfunction (ED) and premature ejaculation (PE) in a large representative cohort of men at the population level.

Methods: This study was based on computer-assisted web interviews that used validated questionnaires.

Thulium:YAG laser: a good compromise between holmium:YAG and thulium fiber laser for endoscopic lithotripsy? A narrative review.

Purpose: To provide a technological description of the new pulsed solid-state Thulium:YAG laser (Tm:YAG). In addition, current available literature on Tm:YAG lithotripsy is also reviewed.

Materials And Methods: Medline, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases were used to search for Tm:YAG operating mode articles.

Clinical Reproducibility of the Stone Volume Measurement: A "Kidney Stone Calculator" Study.

Background: An accurate estimation of the stone burden is the key factor for predicting retrograde intra-renal surgical outcomes. Volumetric calculations better stratify stone burden than linear measurements. We developed a free software to assess the stone volume and estimate the lithotrity duration according to 3D-segmented stone volumes, namely the Kidney Stone Calculator (KSC).

Standardized technique for ejaculation preservation during prostatic endoscopic ablative surgery.

Purpose: Ejaculatory dysfunction is the most common side effect of benign prostatic hyperplasia surgery. Modified techniques have emerged with the aim of preserving antegrade ejaculation without compromising obstruction relief. None are standardized or validated.

Endoscopic Conservative Treatment of Upper Urinary Tract Urothelial Carcinoma with a Thulium Laser: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Thulium lasers (TLs), namely the Thulium fiber laser (TFL) and the Thulium:YAG (Tm:YAG), are being increasingly adopted for the conservative treatment of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). However, to date, the real clinical impact of TLs on UTUC management remains not well-characterized. We performed a review of the literature to summarize the current evidence on TLs for UTUC treatment.

Navigating urolithiasis treatment: assessing the practicality and performance of thulium fiber laser, holmium YAG, and thulium YAG in real-world scenarios.

Background: The management of urolithiasis has undergone significant advancements with the introduction of pulsed lasers, particularly the holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Ho:YAG) laser, which is currently considered the gold standard in endourology. However, the Ho:YAG laser has certain limitations, such as the inability to support small laser fibers (150 μm) and the requirement of a heavy water cooling system, making it challenging to transfer between operating rooms. These limitations have led to the emergence of new laser technologies, including the thulium fiber laser (TFL) and the thulium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser (Tm:YAG), as potential alternatives to the Ho:YAG laser.

Initial clinical experience with the pulsed solid-state thulium YAG laser from Dornier during RIRS: first 25 cases.

Introduction: Holmium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Ho:YAG) and thulium fiber (TFL) lasers are currently the two laser sources recommended for endocorporeal laser lithotripsy (ELL). Recently, the pulsed-thulium:YAG (Tm:YAG) laser was also proposed for ELL, as an answer to both Ho:YAG and TFL limitations. We aimed to evaluate the efficiency, safety, and laser settings of Tm:YAG laser in ELL during retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS).

Optimizing Outcomes in Flexible Ureteroscopy: A Narrative Review of Suction Techniques.

Objective: The aim of this review is to summarize the existing suction systems in flexible ureteroscopy (fURS) and to evaluate their effectiveness and safety.

Methods: A narrative review was performed using the Pubmed and Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) databases. Additionally, we conducted a search on the Twitter platform.

Incidence of urological cancers in neurological patients: a review of the literature from the EAU Young Academic Urologist Functional Group.

Introduction: Urological cancers can be challenging in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with neurological diseases. As a result, there are still uncertainties regarding the incidence and risk factors favouring the development of urological cancers in these patients. The aim of this study was to review the available evidence regarding the incidence for the development of urological cancers in neurological patients to provide a basis for future recommendations and research.

The Use of a Virtual Reality Device (HypnoVR) During Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy for Treatment of Urinary Stones: Initial Results of a Clinical Protocol.

Objective: To assess the impact of a Virtual Reality Device (VRD, HypnoVR, Strasbourg, France) on patient-reported pain and anxiety during extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL).

Materials And Methods: We enrolled 30 patients submitted to ESWL for urinary stones. Patients with either epilepsy or migraine were excluded.