Lasertripsy of upper urinary tract calculi after unsuccessful extracorporeal lithotripsy or ureteroscopy: comparison with primary lasertripsy.

Lasertripsy of upper urinary tract calculi after unsuccessful extracorporeal lithotripsy (SWL) or ureteroscopy (Group 1; N = 26 patients, 36 calculi) was compared with primary lasertripsy (Group 2; N = 56 patients, 79 calculi). Access to calculi was achieved by a Candela miniscope or flexible ureteroscope, and laser fragmentation was performed with the Candela pulsed-dye laser. Laser alone or laser plus 1.9F basket extraction produced a stone-free rate of 80.6% in Group 1 and 79.8% in Group 2. Additional treatment methods were needed in similar proportions of both groups and in most patients consisted of SWL of fragments displaced into the kidney. The laser fragmentation failures rates were 2.8% in Group 1 and 7.6% in Group 2. One-month stone-free rates and major complication rates were similar in the two groups. Lasertripsy after unsuccessful SWL or ureteroscopy was as effective as primary lasertripsy.