Laser lithotripsy for ureteric calculi: results in 250 patients.

Two hundred and fifty patients with 290 stones presenting to the Department of Urology were treated with the Candela MDL 2000 Laser Lithotripter. Overall stone clearance rate was 95%. The more proximal the calculus the lower the success rate. Ninety eight percent of stones in the lower ureter, 95% of mid ureteric and 91% of upper ureteric stones were cleared. The major complication was perforation which occurred in 6% of cases. This procedure is a safe and effective treatment for ureteric calculi and is associated with a low complication rate and a high clearance rate. Laser lithotripsy is the optimum ureteroscopic method of treating ureteric calculi and is complimentary to extra corporeal shock wave lithotripsy.