Uteroscopic laser lithotripsy is a surgical procedure to remove kidney stones, reduce enlarged prostate glands and repair other abdominal soft tissue disorders. The lithotripsy process involves the use of either ultrasonic, electrohydraulic or shock wave methods to demolish kidney stones to smaller sizes, making them easier to pass through the urinary tract and excrete. The Holmium laser offers a flexible ureteroscopy or endoscopic approach that is considered one of the most advanced in the treatment for kidney stones and uses a laser beam that produces thermal energy that dissolves obstructive tissue. Surgical procedures utilizing laser technology are minimally invasive but may still produce post-surgical symptoms for patients.
Laser
The Holmium laser utilizes laser energy to treat a variety of conditions, including enlarged prostate and other pelvic or soft tissue disorders. Minimal pain is experienced by patients, according to the Holmium manufacturer, when used alone without additional surgical techniques such as incisions. The Holmium fibers are threaded through both flexible or rigid ureteroscopes, or long tubes with a viewing piece on one end that enable minimally invasive surgery.
Anesthesia
Post-surgical patients often experience a degree of nausea following anesthesia. The ureteroscopic Holmium laser lithotripsy procedure is performed under general anesthesia, which means the patient sleeps during the procedure. Individuals react to the anesthesia differently, depending on age, medical condition and amount of anesthesia given during the procedure.
Pain
Pain caused by laparoscopic incisions or use of grasping forceps for retrieval of stones, or when used in other treatments and procedures, will determine the amount of pain or discomfort felt by individual patients. The Pediatric Surgery International Journal published by Springer Berlin in Heidelberg states that children undergoing the procedure during a study experienced no complications. Some soreness is often expected, though pain medication is usually not required.
