Laser technology has rapidly propelled surgical techniques in urinary tract calculus removal. The thulium fiber laser (TFL) is a relatively new tool that can be used for laser lithotripsy, as an alternative to the holmium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Ho:YAG) laser. TFL differs from Ho:YAG in several important ways including longer pulse width, lower peak power, and higher absorption in water. Surgically, this translates to less retropulsion, improved visibility, and improved stone dusting capability. The clinical literature to date supports comparable efficacy and safety between TFL and Ho:YAG. Each laser serves an important role in the treatment of urinary calculi.
The Urologic clinics of North America. 2025 May 30 [Epub]
Srinath-Reddi Pingle, Ezra J Margolin, Jodi Antonelli, Michael E Lipkin
Department of Urology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 622 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA., Department of Urology, Duke University, 40 Duke Medicine Circle, Durham, NC 27710, USA., Department of Urology, Duke University, 40 Duke Medicine Circle, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: .