1
|
Bozzini G, Maltagliati M, Berti L, Besana U, Calori A, Pastore AL, Gozen A, Govorov A, Liatsikos E, Micali S, Rocco B, Tunc L, Buizza C. "VirtualBasket" ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy: intraoperative and early postoperative outcomes. Minerva Urol Nephrol 2021; 74:344-350. [PMID: 33769013 DOI: 10.23736/s2724-6051.21.04025-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The "VirtualBasket" technology is the result of pulse modulation during holmium laser emission: the laser emits part of the energy to create an initial bubble, and a second pulse is emitted when the vapor bubble is at its maximum expansion, so that it can pass through the previously created vapor channel. The aim of this study is to outline the outcomes of the "VirtualBasket" technology in ureteral and renal stones. METHODS 160 Patients were randomly assigned to holmium laser lithotripsy with or without the "VirtualBasket" technology in ureteric or renal cases (40 per 4 groups). All procedures were performed by four experienced urologists. The Quanta System Cyber Ho 100W laser generator with 365 μm fibers was used for all of the ureteral cases, whereas, 272 μm fibers were used for all of the cases in the renal pelvis. Demographic data, stone parameters, perioperative complications and success rates were compared. A statistical analysis was carried out to assess patients data and outcomes. All of the reported p-values were obtained with the two-sided exact method at the conventional 5% significance level. The degree of stone retropulsion was graded on a Likert scale from zero (no retropulsion) to 3 (maximum retropulsion). RESULTS All groups were comparable in terms of age, and pre-operative stone size (ureter stone size: 1.2 vs. 1.1 cm; renal pelvis stone size: 1.55 vs. 1.62 cm). Compared to the regular mode, the "VirtualBasket" technology was associated with significantly lower fragmentation time (mean time for ureteral stones: 20.4 vs. 16.1 minutes, p<0.05; mean time for renal stones: 28.7 vs. 19.8 minutes, p<0.05) and total procedural time (mean time for ureteral stones 49 vs. 35.7 minutes; mean time for renal stones 67.1 vs. 52.4 minutes). There were no significant differences in terms of energy delivered to the stones, intraoperative complications and success rate at 1 month. The "VirtualBasket" technology was associated with significantly lower retropulsion. CONCLUSIONS The "VirtualBasket" technology is associated with significantly lower fragmentation and procedural times. The reduced fragmentation time is a result of the significantly lower retropulsion of the stones during laser lithotripsy, which improves stone fragmentation efficiency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Bozzini
- Department of Urology, ASST Valle Olona, Busto Arsizio, Varese, Italy.,ESUT, European Section for UroTechnology
| | - Matteo Maltagliati
- Department of Urology, ASST Valle Olona, Busto Arsizio, Varese, Italy - .,Department of Urology, Ospedale Policlinico e Nuovo Ospedale Civile S. Agostino Estense, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Berti
- Department of Urology, ASST Valle Olona, Busto Arsizio, Varese, Italy.,Department of Urology, Ospedale Policlinico e Nuovo Ospedale Civile S. Agostino Estense, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Umberto Besana
- Department of Urology, ASST Valle Olona, Busto Arsizio, Varese, Italy
| | - Alberto Calori
- Department of Urology, ASST Valle Olona, Busto Arsizio, Varese, Italy
| | - Antonio L Pastore
- Department of Urology, ICOT Latina, Università la Sapienza, Roma, Italy
| | - Ali Gozen
- ESUT, European Section for UroTechnology.,Department of Urology, SLK Heilbronn Hospital, Heilbronn, Germany
| | - Alexander Govorov
- ESUT, European Section for UroTechnology.,Department of Urology, Moscow University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Evangelos Liatsikos
- ESUT, European Section for UroTechnology.,Department of Urology, Patras University, Patras, Greece
| | - Salvatore Micali
- Department of Urology, Ospedale Policlinico e Nuovo Ospedale Civile S. Agostino Estense, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Bernardo Rocco
- ESUT, European Section for UroTechnology.,Department of Urology, Ospedale Policlinico e Nuovo Ospedale Civile S. Agostino Estense, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Lütfi Tunc
- ESUT, European Section for UroTechnology.,Department of Urology, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Carlo Buizza
- Department of Urology, ASST Valle Olona, Busto Arsizio, Varese, Italy
| |
Collapse
|