[Endoscopic lithotripsy and FREDDY laser technology. Initial experience].

Introduction And Purpose: FREDDY laser technology was developed for endocorporeal lithotripsy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate, based on our initial experience, the efficacy and place of this technology in the treatment of urinary calculi by ureterorenoscopy. (World of Medicine) to treat 26 patients (29 stones) by ureterorenoscopy. This was the second procedure for 25 stones: after ESWL (23 cases) or percutaneous nephrolithotomy (2 cases) and the first procedure for 4 stones. The mean stone diameter was 9 mm (range: 6-15 mm). Thirteen stones were situated in the kidney and 16 were in the ureter. Success of treatment was defined by the absence of residual fragments immediately after the operation or at one month on plain abdominal x-ray.

Results: Twenty-six stones were satisfactorily fragmented. At three months, 21 out of 26 (80.7%) patients were stone-free corresponding to 21 out of 29 (72.4%) stones). Failures concerned 8 stones (5 patients). For five stones, measuring more than 10 mm, residual fragments persisted at three months. For three other stones, two cystine stones and one calcium oxalate monohydrate stone, fragmentation was insufficient or even nonexistent for the cystine stones. The mean length of hospital stay was 1.5 days (range: 1-3 days). A ureteric perforation due to a stone impacted in the ureteric wall was observed.

Conclusions: FREDDY laser endoscopic lithotripsy is a safe and effective method due to the wavelength used. This laser could constitute an alternative treatment option in view of its moderate cost and the fact that it is adapted to flexible ureterorenoscopy. However, it presents certain limitations in terms of fragmentation, particularly in the case of cystine stones, and cannot be used to treat solid lesions (urinary tract strictures and tumours).