Abstract: PD35-05
Sources of Funding: None

Introduction

There are many techniques for laser lithotripsy of urinary stones. The "popcorn" method involves placing a laser fiber in the center of a collection of stones and firing continuously, allowing fragments to further dust into smaller particles. Our aim was to examine different locations and laser settings on the efficiency of this lithotripsy method.

Methods

Pre-fragmented BegoStone phantoms were created between 2-4mm in size to mimic typical popcorning conditions. A 0.5g collection of fragments was placed into two 3D-printed models (a 2 cm spherical calyx model and 4x2 cm ellipsoid pelvis model, Figure 1) and a 200µm laser fiber was positioned at the top of the stones. The laser was fired for 2 minutes with constant irrigation, with 5 trials performed at each setting: 0.2J/50Hz, 0.5J/20Hz, 0.5J/40Hz, 1J/20Hz. The fragmentation efficiency was determined by calculating the mass of stones reduced to sub-2mm particles after 48h of drying. Statistical analysis was performed with ANOVA and Student's T-test. Additionally, high-speed photography was used to examine the mechanism of the popcorn effect.

Results

The trials within the calyx model were significantly more efficient compared to the pelvis model (0.18g vs 0.13g, p<0.05). When comparing laser settings, there was a difference between groups by one-way ANOVA (F[3,36] = 7.92, p = 0.0003). Post hoc tests showed that 20W settings were significantly more efficient than 0.2J/50Hz (p<0.05) although 0.5J/20Hz was not significantly less efficient than the 20W settings (Figure 2). High-speed imaging shows the majority of fragmentation is due to intermittent stone contact with the laser as opposed to stone-stone interaction.

Conclusions

The popcorn effect is most efficient in a smaller space as in the calyx model and as such we recommend displacement of stones into a calyx for popcorning. The 0.5J/20Hz setting produces efficient popcorning at a lower power of 10W, reducing fiber burnback and potential for injury, and is our recommended setting.

Funding

None