Comparison of the efficiency, safety and pain scores of holmium laser devices working with 20 watt and 30 watt using in retrograde intrarenal surgery: One center prospective study

Objectives: Holmium:Yttrium Aluminum Garnet laser lithotripsy is used in Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery. Fragmentation is made with a certain value of pulse energy (Joule) and frequency (Hertz) in Holmium laser lithotripsy and the multiplication of these values gives us total power (Watt). Devices with maximum power of 20 Watt and 30 Watt are used in clinical practice. We want to compare the efficiency, safety and pain scores of the lithotripsy made below 20 Watt and over 30 Watt with 30 Watt laser device.
Materials and methods: 60 patients who had 2-3 cm sized kidney stones and operation planned were prospectively divided into three groups. Groups were random identified. In the first group, fragmentation was performed below 20 Watt power with 20 Watt laser device. In the second group, fragmentation was performed below 20 Watt power with 30 Watt laser device. In the third group, fragmentation was performed over 20 Watt power with 30 Watt laser device. Demographic, stone, intraoperative and postoperative data were recorded. We compared these groups regarding efficiency, safety and pain score.
Results: For demographic and stone data, there was a statistically significant difference only for stone number. For intraoperative and postoperative data, there was a statistically significant difference only for ureteral access sheath usage between the groups. Success was lower than the other groups in Group 1.
Conclusions: Success was higher in groups using 30 Watt laser device. There was not statistically significantly difference between complications and pain. 30 Watt laser device is safe and efficient in Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery.