Publication:

Role of medical expulsive therapy in lower ureteral calculus

Background Urolithiasis is a chronic disease with a significant burden on the healthcare system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of medical expulsive therapy (tamsulosin alone or in combination with deflazacort) in the treatment of lower ureteric calculi.

Methods This was a prospective, randomized, controlled trial conducted at a tertiary care centre between November 2015 and October 2017. Patients aged more than 18 years solitary ureteral calculus 5-10 mm in size, located at distal ureter were randomized (1:1:1) to receive tamsulosin 0.4 mg once-daily (OD), deflazacort 6 mg twice-daily (BD) and analgesic OD (Group A); tamsulosin 0.4 mg and analgesic OD (Group B); or only analgesic OD (Group C, control Group) for 7 days. The treatment duration was extended to 28 days or until the expulsion of stone. Patients were followed-up weekly during the treatment period.

Results A total of 105 patients were enrolled in the study. Overall, 51.5% of patients in Group A, 48.5% of patients in Group B and 54.3% of patients in Group C had calculus size 7-10 mm. Patients allocated to Group A (80%) and Group B (74.3%) showed higher stone expulsion rate as compared to those in Group C (48.6%).  The mean time taken for stone expulsion was around 12 days in Group A, whereas around 15 days in Group B and C.

Conclusions The combination of tamsulosin and deflazacort resulted in higher stone expulsion rate in patients with lower ureteral calculus.