Thulium Fiber Versus Holmium:Yttrium-aluminum-garnet Laser for Endoscopic Enucleation of the Prostate: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Thulium fiber laser (TFL) emerged as a competitor of holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Ho:YAG) laser for anatomic enucleation of the prostate (AEEP) in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) related to benign prostatic obstruction (BPO). The aim was to compare the surgical outcomes of Ho:YAG and TFL for AEEP. METHODS: A literature search was conducted to identify reports published from inception until January 2024. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines were followed to identify eligible studies. The coprimary outcomes were the postoperative International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), IPSS-Quality of Life (IPSS-QoL), and peak urinary flow (Qmax). KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS: Five studies met our inclusion criteria, and data from 1287 and 1555 patients who underwent AEEP with Ho:YAG (holmium laser enucleation of the prostate [HoLEP]) and TFL (thulium fiber laser enucleation of the prostate [ThuFLEP]), respectively, were reviewed. ThuFLEP was associated with a better IPSS at 3 mo even if the difference was not clinically significant (mean difference [MD] 0.59, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.29-0.88; p < 0.001). No difference was found for IPSS at 6-12 mo (p = 0.9), and IPSS-QoL at 3 mo (p = 0.9) and 6-12 mo (p = 0.2). HoLEP was associated with a better Qmax at 3 mo (MD 1.41 ml/s, 95% CI: 0.51-2.30; p = 0.002) and ThuFLEP at 6-12 mo (MD -2.61 ml/s, 95% CI: -4.68 to 0.59; p = 0.01), but the differences were not clinically significant. No difference was found in the major (p = 0.3) and overall (p = 0.3) complication rates. HoLEP was associated with shorter enucleation (MD -11.86, 95% CI: -22.36 to 1.36; p = 0.03) but not total operative time (p = 0.5). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The present review provides the most updated evidence on the impact of Ho:YAG and TFL in AEEP, demonstrating that these two energy sources are effective in relieving bothersome LUTS in men with BPO. PATIENT SUMMARY: Thulium fiber laser is a new energy source that can be used safely for performing endoscopic enucleation of the prostate in men with bothersome symptoms associated with benign prostatic enlargement.

Flexible ureteroscopic treatment of kidney stones: How do the new laser systems change our concepts?

Objective: Flexible ureteroscopy (fURS) has become a widely accepted and effective technique for treating kidney stones. With the development of new laser systems, the fURS approach has evolved significantly. This literature review aims to examine the current state of knowledge on fURS treatment of kidney stones, with a particular focus on the impact of the latest laser technologies on clinical outcomes and patient safety. Methods: We conducted a search of the PubMed/PMC, Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, Embase (Ovid), and Cochrane Databases for all randomized controlled trial articles on laser lithotripsy in September 2023 without time restriction. Results: We found a total of 22 relevant pieces of literature. Holmium laser has been used for intracavitary laser lithotripsy for nearly 30 years and has become the golden standard for the treatment of urinary stones. However, the existing holmium laser cannot completely powder the stone, and the retropulsion of the stone after the laser emission and the thermal damage to the tissue have caused many problems for clinicians. The introduction of thulium fiber laser and Moses technology brings highly efficient dusting lithotripsy effect through laser innovation, limiting pulse energy and broadening pulse frequency. Conclusion: While the holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser remains the primary choice for endoscopic laser lithotripsy, recent technological advancements hint at a potential new gold standard. Parameter range, retropulsion effect, laser fiber adaptability, and overall system performance demand comprehensive attention. The ablation efficacy of high-pulse-frequency devices relies on precise targeting, which may pose practical challenges.

Thulium Fiber Laser Versus Holmium:Yttrium Aluminum Garnet for Lithotripsy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

CONTEXT: Thulium fiber laser (TFL) emerged as a competitor of holmium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Ho:YAG) laser for the treatment of urinary stones. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy between Ho:YAG and TFL for laser lithotripsy of renal and ureteral stones. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A literature search was conducted using PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Web of Science databases to identify reports published until May 2023. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines were followed to identify eligible studies. The primary outcome was to compare the stone-free rate (SFR) between Ho:YAG and TFL for laser lithotripsy. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Eleven studies met our inclusion criteria, and data from 1286 and 880 patients who underwent, respectively, Ho:YAG and TFL laser lithotripsy were reviewed. Most studies included ureteroscopy (URS) and retrograde intrarenal surgeries as procedures, two included percutaneous nephrolithotomy, and one included URS exclusively. Only two studies reported results in pediatric patients. TFL was associated with a higher SFR (odds ratio [OR] 1.84, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06-3.20; p = 0.031) when no residual fragment is considered, but not when SFR refers to the presence of fragments <3 mm (OR 2.48, 95% CI: 0.98-6.29; p = 0.055) or when only Ho:YAG with MOSES is considered (p = 0.068). According to the stones' location, TFL was associated with higher SFRs than Ho:YAG for renal (OR 3.14, 95% CI: 1.69-5.86; p < 0.001) but not for ureteral (p = 0.8) stones. TFL was associated with a lower intraoperative complication rate (OR 0.34, 95% CI: 0.19-0.63; p < 0.001). No difference was found in major (p = 0.4) or overall (p = 0.4) complication rate, operative time (p = 0.051), and laser time (p = 0.9). CONCLUSIONS: TFL is a promising laser for the treatment of urinary stones with some advantages over Ho:YAG. Further high-quality studies are needed to confirm these findings and optimize the surgical settings. PATIENT SUMMARY: The use of thulium fiber laser rather than holmium:yttrium aluminum garnet permits to reach a higher stone-free rate in stones located in the kidney rather than in the ureter.

Benefits of accurate and guided endoureterotomy versus ureteral balloon dilatation in the management of ureteral strictures-comparative animal study.

Background: Endoscopic treatment of ureteral strictures provides a minimally invasive approach with a shorter hospital stay and less postoperative pain. There are different therapeutic options, the dilatation balloon and endoureterotomy with holmium yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Ho:YAG) laser are the most used. To assess histological changes after endoureterotomy in the ureteral stricture treatment comparing Ho:YAG laser endoureterotomy versus balloon dilatation endoureterotomy. Methods: The subjects used were a total of 48 female pigs. The initial assessment consisted of an endoscopic, nephrosonographic, and contrast fluoroscopic evaluation of the urinary tract. Subsequently, a model of ureteral stricture was performed. Three weeks later, the ureteral stricture was diagnosed and treated. Then animals were randomly assigned to two groups (group A, Balloon dilatation endoureterotomy and group B, Holmium laser retrograde endoureterotomy) in which a double-pigtail ureteral stent was placed for 3 weeks. Follow-up assessments were performed at 3-6 weeks. The final follow-up was completed at 5 months and included the pathological study. Results: In terms of therapeutic effectiveness, the overall success was 81.2%. The success rate was 91.7% in group B and 70.8%in group A without statistical significance. No evidence of vesicoureteral reflux nor urinary tract anomalies were observed. Histological assessment showed statistical significance in overall score, lamina propria fibrosis and serosal alterations in group A with higher histological changes. Conclusions: The overall histopathological score after ureteral stricture treatment in an animal model showed better remodeling of incised ureteral wall healing after Ho:YAG laser endoureterotomy. Laser endoureterotomy tends to have higher success rate compared to balloon dilatation.

Holmium: Yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser lithotripsy: Is there a difference in ablation rates between short and long pulse duration?

Introduction: The high-power holmium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet lasers provide a wide variety of settings for stone disintegration. The aim of this in vitro study is to evaluate the effect of short and long pulse duration on ablation rates on urinary stones. Materials and Methods: Two types of artificial stones were created by BegoStone™ with different compositions (15:3 and 15:6, stone/water ratio). Stones with a 15:3 and 15:6 powder-to-water ratio were defined as hard and soft stones, respectively. Lithotripsy was performed with different laser settings using a custom-made in vitro model consisting of a 60 cm long and 19 mm diameter tube. The ablation rate is defined as the final total mass subtracted from the initial total mass and divided to the time of treatment. Stone ablation rates were measured according to different laser settings with total power of 10W (0,5J-20 Hz, 1J-10 Hz, 2J-5 Hz) and 60W (1J-60 Hz, 1,5J-40 Hz, 2J-30 Hz). Results: Higher pulse rates and higher total power settings were related to higher ablation rates. Short pulse duration was more effective on soft stones, whereas long pulse duration was more effective on hard stones. For the same power settings, the highest energy-lowest frequency combination resulted in higher ablation rate in comparison to the lowest energy-higher frequency combination. Finally, short and long pulse average ablation rates do not differ so much. Conclusion: Regardless of the stone type and pulse duration, utilization of higher power settings with higher energies increased the ablation rates. Higher ablation rates were demonstrated for hard stones using long pulse duration, and for soft stones with short pulse duration.

Laser Therapy in Lumbar Disc Surgery - A Narrative Review.

Introduction: Low back pain is one of the most chronic debilitating conditions involving considerable loss of cash, work, and quality time. Lasers are utilized in different fields of drugs, providing unique advantages. They are useful and advantageous in treating lumbar disc disease. In this research, an attempt is made to examine the role and importance of different lasers in lumbar disc surgeries. Methods: We conducted studies about laser therapy in lumbar disc surgery. Our primary search began with reviewing English-language citations from PubMed and Scopus between 1990 and 2019 using the keywords: (laser therapy) OR (lumbar disc AND disc surgery). The initial search yielded 97 articles. However, about 49 articles were selected and used in the present study. Results: Based on the present study, it can be found that there are several methods of using lasers to treat lumbar disc surgery. These methods all have their strengths and weaknesses. Conclusion: The development of laser lumbar disc surgery can be very helpful due to the reduction of surgical risks and the length of the patients' hospital stay. However, the choice of method used for this type of surgery should be made according to the patient's condition and based on the opinion of the treating physician.

A laser-induced pulsed water jet for layer-selective submucosal dissection of the esophagus.

Background and aims: Conventional water jet devices have been used for injecting fluid to lift up lesions during endoscopic submucosal dissection or endoscopic mucosal resection procedures. However, these devices cannot dissect the submucosal layer effectively. Here we aim to elucidate the dissection capability of a laser-induced pulsed water jet and to clarify the mechanism of dissection with layer selectivity. Materials (Subjects) and methods: Pulsed water jets were ejected from a stainless nozzle by accelerating saline using the energy of a pulsed holmium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser. The impact force (strength) of the jet was evaluated using a force meter. Injection of the pulsed jet into the submucosal layer was documented by high-speed imaging. The physical properties of the swine esophagus were evaluated by measuring the breaking strength. Submucosal dissection of the swine esophagus was performed and the resection bed was evaluated histologically. Results: Submucosal dissection of the esophagus was accomplished at an impact force of 1.11-1.47 N/pulse (laser energy: 1.1-1.5 J/pulse; standoff distance: 60 mm). Histological specimens showed clear dissection at the submucosal layer without thermal injury. The mean static breaking strength of the submucosa (0.11 ± 0.04 MPa) was significantly lower than that of the mucosa (1.32 ± 0.18 MPa), and propria muscle (1.45 ± 0.16 MPa). Conclusions: The pulsed water jet device showed potential for achieving selective submucosal dissection. It could achieve mucosal, submucosal, and muscle layer selectivity owing to the varied breaking strengths.