These findings confirm that initial laser fiber power output is significantly influenced by cleave technique, and the ceramic scissor is the optimal tool for cleaving between procedures. However, because of rapid fiber tip degradation and power loss, this study argues against routine cleaving to improve procedural efficiency in lengthy ureteroscopy cases.
Although unstripped laser fibers provided superior power output at 1 minute, output at all other time points was similar between stripped and unstripped fibers. However, despite similar optical output, stripped laser fibers achieved greater stone fragmentation, possibly due to improved contact between stone and fiber tip.
In our investigation, increased operative time of PCNL procedures was not associated with an increase in complications. The increase in mid-level complications observed in patients identified to have infection-based stones corroborates previous data on this particular group of stone patients. While, in general, it is advisable to minimize operative duration, this data does not suggest an increased complication risk with lengthier PCNL procedures.
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