Safety and efficacy of 'Dusting and Pop-dusting' with high power laser for treatment of large stones with ureteroscopy and lasertripsy (URSL): Prospective outcomes from a university teaching hospital.

The wide use of high-power laser has changed the landscape of ureteroscopy and lasertripsy (URSL). We wanted to look at the role and outcomes of high power Ho:YAG laser for URSL in paediatric stone disease. A prospective analysis of consecutive paediatric patients treated with 'Dusting and Pop-dusting' using a high-power laser was done between January 2016 to March 2022. The project was registered with our audit committee. Data was analysed for patient demographics, stone characteristics, operative details, procedural outcomes and complications. Stone free rate (SFR) was defined as fragments ≤2 mm on post-op ultrasound imaging 2-3 months after the procedure. A total of 35 patients underwent 43 procedures (1.2 procedure/patient) during the study period with a mean age of 9.4 years (range:1-16 years) and a male:female ratio of 13:22. The stone location was in the kidney in 32 (91.4%) patients of which 8 were in multiple renal locations. The mean stone size was 18 mm (range:10-39mm), with the pre and post stent rates of 37% and 56% respectively. An access sheath was used in 19 (44%) procedures. The overall stone free rate (SFR) on ultrasound scan was 94% (n=33) with no procedural complications noted in our series and a mean length of stay of 0.9 days. Paediatric URSL using a high-power laser achieves a high SFR even for large and multiple renal stones with no complications noted in our prospective series. Parents must however be counselled about the need for staged procedures which might be needed for large stones.