The first case of pancreatoscopy-guided lithotripsy using a novel superpulsed fiberoptic thulium laser

A 50-year-old man with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis was admitted to our hospital with upper abdominal pain and weight loss (8 kg in 5 months). Abdominal ultrasonography and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) revealed dilatation of the main pancreatic duct (MPD) up to 13mm, narrowing of the terminal part of the MPD to 2mm, and a pancreatic stone (18×12mm in size) located 10mm above the orifice (▶Fig. 1). We performed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), endoscopic papillotomy, and pancreatic papillotomy, followed by endoscopic bouginage using Soehendra dilators (Cook Medical) from 4 to 9 Fr and balloon dilation (Boston Scientific; 6–8mm) of the pancreatic stricture (▶Fig. 2). Peroral pancreatoscopy (Spyglass DS-II; Boston Scientific) was then successfully performed, followed by laser lithotripsy using a novel thulium laser (FiberLase U2; “IRE-Polyus”, Russia) (▶Fig. 3). The laser beamwas transmitted via a 400-μm fiber. The surface layer of the pancreatic stone was destroyed in the “dusting” mode (adjusted frequency 60–100Hz, power 6–10W, pulse energy 0.1 J); then the denser core was fragmented in the “popcorn” mode (frequency 40–60Hz, power 8–12W, pulse energy 0.2 J). The stone was completely destroyed without damaging the soft tissues and was removed from the MPD (▶Video 1). The intervention lasted 115 minutes, including 70 minutes of lithotripsy (owing to difficult positioning because of the low stone position). The postoperative period was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on the third day after the intervention. Currently, there are three main methods of treatment for MPD stones: extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, electrohydraulic lithotripsy, and holmium laser lithotripsy [1–3]. A recently released super-pulsed fiberoptic thulium laser has been shown since 2019 to be highly effective in lithotripsy of ureteral stones [4]. Our case, the first of its kind, demonstrates the successful and safe use of this new laser for MPD stone lithotripsy. This promising method could be an alternative to other treatment options for pancreatic stones.