Vacuum suction ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy effective modality for impacted upper ureteral stones

A study was conducted to compare a novel vacuum suction ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy (VS-URS) with traditional ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy (T-URS) for impacted upper ureteral stones and to better define the potential benefits of Vacuum suction ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy.

Between May 2019 and March 2021, 158 patients with impacted upper ureteral stones underwent ureteroscopic holmium-YAG laser lithotripsy. Of these, 76 underwent Vacuum suction ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy and 82 underwent traditional ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy. In vacuum suction ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy procedures, the vacuum suction device is composed of a 5F ureteral catheter and a tee joint. The ureteral catheter is linked to the vacuum aspirator by the sidearm of the tee joint, and a 200 μm fibre is inserted through the tee joint and the ureteral catheter into the stone site for lithotripsy.

Results of the study are:

• When compared to the T-URS group, the Vacuum suction ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy group had a shorter mean operation time, lower fever rate, less stone retropulsion, lower extra management rate, and a higher stone-free rate on the first postoperative day.
• There were no significant differences in stone-free rates 1 month after surgery between groups

Thus, Vacuum suction ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy is an effective modality for impacted upper ureteral stones and has a shorter operating time, lower fever rate, less stone retropulsion, and a higher primary stone-free rate compared with traditional ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy.

Reference:

Wu, ZH., Wang, YZ., Liu, TZ. et al. Comparison of vacuum suction ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy and traditional ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy for impacted upper ureteral stones. World J Urol (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-022-04075-3