An efficient computational approach based on the path integral concept is described to solve nonlinear pulse propagation dynamics in realistic optical fibers. As model equations which can predict the propagation, we consider the perturbed (scalar) and the coupled (vectorial) nonlinear Schro¨dinger equations for monomode and birefringent fibers, respectively. With the equivalence between path integration and Fresnel transform, an efficient algorithm can be employed which has been developed for use in the field of wave signal processing of holographic data. After ensuring the validity of the method through the application to canonical soliton problems, results are shown for nonlinear pulse propagation under realistic conditions.