Laser lithotripsy in pregnancy. A case report.

Laser lithotripsy is a new method of treating symptomatic urolithiasis. The pulsed dye laser lithotripter uses coumarin to deliver energy with a visible peak wave-length of 504 nm. This energy is transmitted to the calculus through an optical fiber, and mechanical disruption of the stone occurs when multiple pulses of laser energy are applied to the surface of the stone. The method is safe and effective for impacted ureteral calculi. A woman at 20 weeks of pregnancy experienced intractable pain secondary to a 9-mm, distal ureteral stone. She was treated successfully with endoscopic fragmentation using pulsed dye laser lithotripsy.