Between 1989 and 1992, 116 patients suffering from bladder tumours had been treated with Nd-Yag laser. In 74 cases only laser treatment was applied, in 42 cases laser treatment was combined with transurethral resection (TUR). The patients were in phases Ta, T1 or T2 and in the majority of them histological examination did not reveal Grade 3. No considerable complications, e.g. perforation of the bladder or severe haemorrhages, were observed during laser treatment. After laser and TUR+laser treatment, respectively, relapses occurred in 16-19% of the cases, considerably less frequently than after treatment with only TUR.

No abstract

— The authors report on their experience gained in the percutaneous endoscopic treatment of 60 cases of stones in the upper ureter. The stones ranged in dimension from 12 to 15 mm. In 36 patients the push-back attempt was successful and after ultrasound crushing, the stones were removed percutaneously. After unsuccessful push-back in the other 24 patients, anterograde ureteroscopy was performed with crushing, using either Nd: YAG Pulsed Laser or electrohydraulic energy. Their experience shows that a combination of anterograde ureteroscopy and laser stone crushing is a reliable and efficient procedure for the treatment of impacted stones in the upper third of the ureter. In such cases laser crushing gives better results than the electrohydraulic procedure.

The authors analyse 29 operations of malignant renal tumours performed during the last 10 years, where the organs were preserved. In 20 cases conservation of the organ was indicated by necessity due to disease or lack of the contralateral kidney, and in 9 cases due to a small extension of the tumour. The authors report their experience in preoperative examinations; they discuss some surgical techniques and describe their system of patient control. Based upon their experience, conservation of the organ is indicated in those cases where radical surgical removal is possible.

The authors report their experience with the laser smashing of 105 ureteral calculi between Sept. 1 1989 and Sept. 30 1992. Applying the pulsating Nd-Yag laser through a ureteroscope as a monotherapy, they have obtained good results in 83% of the cases. Using complementary methods in addition, the successful elimination of calculi was 95%. The possible complications are discussed and the advantages and disadvantages of the different energy sources used for smashing the calculi are compared. On the basis of their results, the Authors consider that endoscopic treatment of ureteral calculi may be indicated even in the era of extracorporeal stone-smashing. They stress that endoscopic operations are only preferable compared to ESWL-treatment if all indispensable devices are available: energy sources and thin, flexible devices for energy conduction. Among them — literature confirms it — laser-energy is the most expedient and least invasive. Laser was first applied for smashing ureteral calculi in Hungary.