Laser induced fragmentation of salivary stones: An in vitro comparison of two different, clinically approved laser systems

Abstract

This study clearly demonstrated the different processes of destroying salivary stones using two different laser systems. While the Ho:YAG vaporises the calculi in a more milling and soft sense, the FREDDY shows a more cracking and explosive destruction. Although both laser systems showed little direct risk to the surrounding tissue, it has to be proven whether cracked and accelerated particles could cause harm to soft tissue. With respect to this, further in vitro studies and clinical treatments in selected cases are needed to proof these results.

Laser lithotripsy of salivary stones: Correlation with physical and radiological parameters

“…IR‐spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy identified carbonate apatite as the main component of the salivary stones. These findings are in agreement with previous examinations . IR‐spectroscopy further revealed Struvite and Weddellite as components of salivary calculi.…”

“…As published previously , fragmentation experiments were performed in a standard aquarium set‐up containing a lattice with a mesh size of 1.5 mm. Lithotripsy was continued until all fragments fell through the pores of the lattice to ensure that all resulting fragments were smaller than 1.5 mm.…”

Intraductal Lithotripsy in Sialolithiasis Using the Calculase III™ Ho:YAG Laser: First Experiences

“…Success rates of over 80% have been reported for IPL [6,17,18]. Although LL has been performed for more than 20 years [19–36], inconsistent and variable success rates have been reported, supposedly caused by poor laser techniques and/or because no suitable sialendoscopes were available. This changed after the development of more advanced sialendoscopes [24,25,37–43] and, in particular, after the improvement of instruments needed to perform effective laser surgery in salivary ducts [7].…”

“…This changed after the development of more advanced sialendoscopes [24,25,37–43] and, in particular, after the improvement of instruments needed to perform effective laser surgery in salivary ducts [7]. Of the currently available lasers, the Ho:YAG laser was shown to be the most suitable [44]—as confirmed by success rates of more than 80% in recent publications [31–35]. We recently showed that salivary stones could be effectively treated with the Calculase II™ Ho:YAG laser [45].…”

Sialendoscopy With Holmium:YAG Laser Treatment for Multiple Large Sialolithiases of the Wharton Duct: A Case Report and Literature Review

“…Since then, many different types of laser systems have been tested in this application, with varying results (Table 1). [5][6][7][8][9][10] Few reports have compared the different laser systems in the applications of sialoendoscopic laser lithotripsy. It remains undetermined whether the holmium:YAG laser will be a more effective system for this procedure.…”