Comparison of high and low pulse energy dusting protocols using holmium: YAG laser in flexible ureteroscopy for treatment of renal stones

Figures & data

Table 1. ‎ Comparison between the two studied groups according to patient ‎demographics’ and stone characteristics.

	High (n = 87)	Low (n = 87)	p
Gender
Male	67 (77.0%)	45 (51.7%)	<0.001*
Female	20 (23.0%)	42 (48.3%)
Age
Mean ± SD.	46.9 ± 12.7	45.7 ± 14.6	0.6
BMI
Mean ± SD.	28.6 ± 4.0	25.9 ± 5.4	<0.001*
Stone volume(mm^3)
			0.9
Median (Min. – Max.)	1473 (390–5333)	1500 (400–4350)
Stone Hounsfield units
			0.3
Median (Min. – Max.)	1200 (1000–1700)	1180 (1000–1600)
Stone location
Upper calyx	23 (26.4%)	25 (28.7%)	0.9
Middle calyx	21 (24.1%)	21 (24.1%)
Lower calyx	26 (29.9%)	25 (28.7%)
Renal pelvis	17 (19.5%)	16 (18.4%)

Figure 1. Patients CONSORT flow diagram.

Table 2. Comparison between the two studied groups according to operative ‎data and post-operative outcome.

	High (n = 87)	Low (n = 87)	p
Operative time (Min)
Mean ± SD.	47.9 ± 20.3	77 ± 32.5	<0.001*
Median (Min. – Max.)	50 [2] − 120)	75 [8] − 170)
Total LASER energy (Joules)
Mean ± SD.	20678.2 ± 13026.8	13713.2 ± 8758	<0.001*
Median (Min. – Max.)	17000 (4000–55000)	13500 (2000–35000)
LASER consumption/mm3 of stone
			<0.001*
Median (Min. – Max.)	23 [9] − 40)	10 [9–16]
Lasing duration (Min)
			<0.001*
Median (Min. – Max.)	12 [3] − 32)	19 [17] − 45)
Stone abilation speed
			<0.001*
Median (Min. – Max.)	11 [9–19]	6.7 (3.3–13)
Stone free rate (SFR)
No stone residual	15 (17.2%)	18 (20.6%)	0.6
Stone free	72 (82.7%)	70 (80.5%)
Complications
modified Clavien-Dindo classification
Fever Grade II	5 (5.7%)	7(8%)	0.6 0.7
Hematuria grade I	3(3.4%)	2(2.3%)

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