Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Stone technology: intracorporeal lithotripters

  • Topic Paper
  • Published:
World Journal of Urology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Intracorporeal lithotripsy is becoming the most commonly used surgical method of stone treatment in Urology. The five major types of intracorporeal lithotripters are ultrasonic, ballistic, and combination lithotripters as well as laser and electrohydraulic lithotripters. The advantages and disadvantages of choosing each of these treatment modalities are reviewed.

Methods

Extensive review of literature was performed to identify the types of intracorporeal lithotripters. An investigation was undertaken of the early development of each modality of intracorporeal lithotripsy and/or the mechanism of action. Challenges of each technique were identified and presented. Finally, a determination was made of how these lithotripters compare on the basis of effectiveness of action and cost based on information provided in primary literature as well as previous reviews of these modalities.

Results

Contemporary lithotripters have found widespread use in the management of urinary lithiasis. Holmium laser lithotripsy has become one of the most commonly used tools for intracorporeal lithotripsy.

Conclusion

There is a wide variety of intracorporeal lithotripters which can be chosen based on the characteristics of each modality and the requirements of the urologist.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Assimos D, Krambeck A, Miller NL, Monga M, Murad MH, Nelson CP, Pace KT, Pais VM Jr, Pearle MS, Preminger GM, Razvi H, Shah O, Matlaga BR (2016) Surgical management of stones: American urological association/endourological society guideline. J Urol 196(4):1153–1169

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Türk C, Petřík A, Sarica K, Seitz C, Skolarikos A, Straub M, Knoll T (2016) EAU guidelines on interventional treatment for urolithiasis. Eur Urol 69(3):475–482

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Herr HW (2008) Crushing the stone: a brief history of lithotripsy, the first minimally invasive surgery. BJU Int 102(4):432–435

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Shelley HS (1964) Intravesical destruction of bladder stones. J Hist Med Allied Sci 19:46–60

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Lingeman JE, Beiko D, Cleveland RO, Evan AP, Gettman MT, Kohrmann KU, Liatsikos E, Matlaga BR, McAteer JA, Monga M, Tailly G, Timoney A (2008) Stone technology: shock wave and intracorporeal lithotripsy. In: Denstedt J, Khoury S (eds) Stone disease. 2nd international consultation on stone disease, vol 4, 21st edn. Health Publications Committee, UK, pp 85–136. ISBN 0-9546956-7-4

    Google Scholar 

  6. Hemal AK, Goel A, Aron M, Seth A, Dogra PN, Gupta NP (2003) Evaluation of fragmentation with single or multiple pulse setting of lithoclast for renal calculi during percutaneous nephrolithotripsy and its impact on clearance. Urol Int 70(4):265–268

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Zhu S, Kourambas J, Munver R, Preminger GM, Zhong P (2000) Quantification of the tip movement of lithotripsy flexible pneumatic probes. J Urol 164(5):1735–1739

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Haupt G, van Ophoven A, Pannek J, Herde T, Senge T (1996) In vitro comparison of two ballistic systems for endoscopic stone disintegration. J Endourol 10(5):417–420

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Chew BH, Arsovska O, Lange D, Wright JE, Beiko DT, Ghiculete D, Honey JR, Pace KT, Paterson RF (2011) The Canadian StoneBreaker trial: a randomized, multicenter trial comparing the LMA StoneBreaker™ and the Swiss LithoClast® during percutaneous nephrolithotripsy. J Endourol 25(9):1415–1419

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Piergiovanni M, Desgrandchamps F, Cochand-Priollet B, Janssen T, Colomer S, Teillac P, Le Duc A (1994) Ureteral and bladder lesions after ballistic, ultrasonic, electrohydraulic, or laser lithotripsy. J Endourol 8(4):293–299

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Mulvaney WP (1953) Attempted disintegration of calculi by ultrasonic vibrations. J Urol 70(5):704–707

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Kurth KH, Hohenfellner R, Altwein JE (1977) Ultrasound litholapaxy of a staghorn calculus. J Urol 117(2):242–243

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Matlaga BR, Krambech AE, Lingeman JE (2016) Surgical management of upper tract urinary calculi. In: Wein AJ, Kavoussi L, Partin AW, Peters CA (eds) Campbell-walsh urology, Chapter 52, 11th edn. ElsevierInc, Amsterdam, pp 1260–1290

    Google Scholar 

  14. Grocela JA, Dretler SP (1997) Intracorporeal lithotripsy. Instrumentation and development. Urol Clin North Am 24(1):13–23

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Vorreuther R, Corleis R, Klotz T, Bernards P, Engelmann U (1995) Impact of shock wave pattern and cavitation bubble size on tissue damage during ureteroscopic electrohydraulic lithotripsy. J Urol 153(3 Pt 1):849–853

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Fabrizio MD, Behari A, Bagley DH (1998) Ureteroscopic management of intrarenal calculi. J Urol 159(4):1139–1143

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Benway BM, Bhayami SB (2016) Lower urinary tract calculi. In: Wein AJ, Kavoussi L, Partin AW, Peters CA (eds) Campbell-walsh urology, Chapter 55, 11th edn. ElsevierInc, Amsterdam, pp 1291–1299

    Google Scholar 

  18. Weiss B, Shah O (2016) Evaluation of dusting versus basketing—can new technologies improve stone-free rates? Nat Rev Urol 13(12):726–733

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Sofer M, Watterson JD, Wollin TA, Nott L, Razvi H, Denstedt JD (2002) Holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy for upper urinary tract calculi in 598 patients. J Urol 167(1):31–34

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Gdor Y, Faddegon S, Krambeck AE, Roberts WW, Faerber GJ, Teichman JM, LingemanJE Wolf JS Jr (2011) Multi-institutional assessment of ureteroscopic laser papillotomy for chronic flank pain associated with papillary calcifications. J Urol 185(1):192–197

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Jeon SS, Hyun JH, Lee KS (2005) A comparison of holmium:YAG laser with lithoclast lithotripsy in ureteral calculi fragmentation. Int J Urol 12(6):544–547

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Teichman JM, Rao RD, Rogenes VJ, Harris JM (1997) Ureteroscopic management of ureteral calculi: lectrohydraulic versus holmium:YAG lithotripsy. J Urol 158(4):1357–1361

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Sofer M, Denstedt J (2000) Flexible ureteroscopy and lithotripsy with the holmium:YAG laser. Can J Urol 7(1):952–956

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. White MD, Moran ME, Calvano CJ, Borhan-Manesh A, Mehlhaff BA (1998) Evaluation of retropulsion caused by holmium:YAG laser with various power settings and fibers. J Endourol 12(2):183–186

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Lee H, Kang HW, Teichman JM, Oh J, Welch AJ (2006) Urinary calculus fragmentation during Ho:YAG and Er:YAG lithotripsy. Lasers Surg Med 38(1):39–51

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Pietrow PK, Auge BK, Zhong P, Preminger GM (2003) Clinical efficacy of a combination pneumatic and ultrasonic lithotrite. J Urol 169(4):1247–1249

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Auge BK, Lallas CD, Pietrow PK, Zhong P, Preminger GM (2002) In vitro comparison of standard ultrasound and pneumatic lithotripters with a new combination intracorporeal lithotripsy device. Urology 60(1):28–32

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of British Columbia, Level 6 - 2775 Laurel St., Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada

    Kymora B. Scotland & Ben H. Chew

  2. University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Tadeusz Kroczak & Kenneth T. Pace

Authors
  1. Kymora B. Scotland
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tadeusz Kroczak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kenneth T. Pace
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ben H. Chew
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ben H. Chew.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Scotland, K.B., Kroczak, T., Pace, K.T. et al. Stone technology: intracorporeal lithotripters. World J Urol 35, 1347–1351 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-017-2057-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-017-2057-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation