Rise in intraluminal temperature during ureteroscopy: Is this a concern?

The global increase in urolithiasis prevalence has led to a shift towards minimally invasive procedures, such as retrograde intrarenal surgery, supported by advancements in laser technologies for lithotripsy. Pulsed lasers, particularly the holmium YAG and the newer thulium fiber laser, have signifi...

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Main Authors: Hyung Joon Kim, Sung Kyu Hong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Korean Urological Association 2025-01-01
Series:Investigative and Clinical Urology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.icurology.org/pdf/10.4111/icu.20240369
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author Hyung Joon Kim
Sung Kyu Hong
author_facet Hyung Joon Kim
Sung Kyu Hong
author_sort Hyung Joon Kim
collection DOAJ
description The global increase in urolithiasis prevalence has led to a shift towards minimally invasive procedures, such as retrograde intrarenal surgery, supported by advancements in laser technologies for lithotripsy. Pulsed lasers, particularly the holmium YAG and the newer thulium fiber laser, have significantly transformed the management of upper urinary tract stones. However, the use of high-power lasers in these procedures introduces risks of heat-related injury. Laser lithotripsy works through photothermal and photomechanical effects to fragment stones, but up to 96% of the laser energy is converted into heat, increasing the risk of thermal damage to the surrounding urothelial mucosa. Studies show that even at low-power settings, intrarenal temperatures can exceed the threshold for cellular injury, particularly in confined spaces like the ureter. This narrative review explores strategies to mitigate thermal injury, including optimizing laser settings, improving irrigation flow rates, and incorporating novel methods such as cold irrigation, controlling outflow resistance, and using suction. Understanding these approaches is crucial to enhancing patient safety during high-power laser lithotripsy procedures.
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publishDate 2025-01-01
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series Investigative and Clinical Urology
spelling doaj-art-0330df8690644fc496a29c0f19088d002025-01-09T09:38:58ZengKorean Urological AssociationInvestigative and Clinical Urology2466-04932466-054X2025-01-0166111010.4111/icu.20240369Rise in intraluminal temperature during ureteroscopy: Is this a concern?Hyung Joon Kim0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3975-3045 Sung Kyu Hong1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8344-6774Department of Urology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.Department of Urology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.The global increase in urolithiasis prevalence has led to a shift towards minimally invasive procedures, such as retrograde intrarenal surgery, supported by advancements in laser technologies for lithotripsy. Pulsed lasers, particularly the holmium YAG and the newer thulium fiber laser, have significantly transformed the management of upper urinary tract stones. However, the use of high-power lasers in these procedures introduces risks of heat-related injury. Laser lithotripsy works through photothermal and photomechanical effects to fragment stones, but up to 96% of the laser energy is converted into heat, increasing the risk of thermal damage to the surrounding urothelial mucosa. Studies show that even at low-power settings, intrarenal temperatures can exceed the threshold for cellular injury, particularly in confined spaces like the ureter. This narrative review explores strategies to mitigate thermal injury, including optimizing laser settings, improving irrigation flow rates, and incorporating novel methods such as cold irrigation, controlling outflow resistance, and using suction. Understanding these approaches is crucial to enhancing patient safety during high-power laser lithotripsy procedures. https://www.icurology.org/pdf/10.4111/icu.20240369lasersperoperative complicationstemperatureureteroscopyurolithiasis
spellingShingle Hyung Joon Kim
Sung Kyu Hong
Rise in intraluminal temperature during ureteroscopy: Is this a concern?
Investigative and Clinical Urology
lasers
peroperative complications
temperature
ureteroscopy
urolithiasis
title Rise in intraluminal temperature during ureteroscopy: Is this a concern?
title_full Rise in intraluminal temperature during ureteroscopy: Is this a concern?
title_fullStr Rise in intraluminal temperature during ureteroscopy: Is this a concern?
title_full_unstemmed Rise in intraluminal temperature during ureteroscopy: Is this a concern?
title_short Rise in intraluminal temperature during ureteroscopy: Is this a concern?
title_sort rise in intraluminal temperature during ureteroscopy is this a concern
topic lasers
peroperative complications
temperature
ureteroscopy
urolithiasis
url https://www.icurology.org/pdf/10.4111/icu.20240369
work_keys_str_mv AT hyungjoonkim riseinintraluminaltemperatureduringureteroscopyisthisaconcern
AT sungkyuhong riseinintraluminaltemperatureduringureteroscopyisthisaconcern