Laser lithotripsy is a surgical procedure to remove stones from urinary tract, i.e., kidney, ureter, bladder, or urethra.
A telescope into the urinary tract to locate the stone. The scope may be a cystoscope, ureteroscope or pyeloscope. A laser fibre is inserted through the working channel of the scope and laser is used to fragment the stone. After the stone is fragmented, stone retrieval baskets can be passed via the scope to extract the fragments.
This procedure usually requires no incisions. The scopes are passed through the natural drainage tubes (urethra, prostate, bladder, ureter and renal pelvis/calyces).
The procedure is usually performed under general anaesthetic and is considered a minimally invasive procedure to treat stones.
This procedure can be done privately at St Vincent's Hospital Lismore.
