Role of Patient Age and Stone Density in Predicting Outcomes of Shockwave Lithotripsy in Lower Ureteral Stones

Background

Shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) is an important tool for treating ureteral stones, especially when ureteroscoy (URS) is not readily available.

Objective

The aim of the study was to identify factors associated with the success of shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) in the treatment of lower ureteral stones.

Methods

Total of 105 consecutive patients with single lower ureteral stones treated with SWL between January 2021 and February 2022 were reviewed retrospectively. Clinical and stone parameters including age, gender, and body mass index (BMI), stone length, and stone density were analyzed. SWL procedures were done using electro-conductive lithotripter Sonolith i-sys (EDAP TMS, Vaulx-en-Velin, France). We evaluated available clinical and radiologic features that might have been related to successful SWL treatment.

Results

Treatment was successful in 67/105 patients (63.8%). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that a successful outcome was significantly related to mean stone density (MSD) (95% CI: 1.004- 1.009) and the patients age (95% CI: 1.022- 1.13). Gender, BMI, and stone length were not an independent predicting factors.

Conclusion

Stone density and patient age were independent predictors of successful outcome after two SWLs in the lower ureter. However, gender, BMI, and stone length did not independently predict treatment success.

Mirabegron as a Medical Expulsive Therapy for 5-10 mm Distal Ureteral Stones: A Prospective, Randomized, Comparative Study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of mirabegron as a medical expulsive therapy in patients with distal ureteral stones of 5-10 mm size.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A prospective, comparative study included 96 patients with radiopaque distal ure- teral stones of 5-10 mm who were randomly allocated and treated by medical expulsive therapy in 2 groups from January 2019 to December 2020. Patients in group A received only ketorolac 30 mg/day for 5 days, then on demand. Patients in group B received mirabegron 50 mg/day for 4 weeks plus ketorolac 30 mg/day like in group A. The stone expulsion rate was the primary outcome.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences regarding age, gender, body mass index, laterality, degree of hydronephrosis, and stone size. After 4 weeks, stone expulsion rate was 52.1% for group A versus 89.6% for group B (P < .001). The median (range) of time to stone expulsion was 14 (13-23) and 7 (3-16) days for groups A and B, respectively (P = .004). The medians (range; interquartile range) of episodes of renal pain (1 (0-2; 1) vs. (0-2; 2); P < .001) and extra analgesic ampoules (1 (0-7; 4) vs. 0 (0-2; 0) vials; P < .001) were significantly higher in group A than those in group B, respectively. In multivariate analysis, only medical expulsive therapy (P <.001) and stone size (P < .001) were independent predictors of stone expulsion rate.

CONCLUSION

Mirabegron is an effective and safe medical expulsive therapy agent in patients with 5-10 mm distal ureteral stones.

Meta-Analysis of the Safety and Efficacy of α-Adrenergic Blockers for Pediatric Urolithiasis in the Distal Ureter

OBJECTIVE

Pediatric urolithiasis is a common condition, and medical expulsive therapy has grown to be accepted by many parents. We carried out a meta-analysis to identify the efficacy and safety of α-adrenergic blockers for the treatment of pediatric urolithiasis.

METHODS

We identified related articles from the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. All published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) describing the use of α-adrenergic blockers and placebo treatment for pediatric distal urolithiasis were involved. The outcomes included stone expulsion rate, stone expulsion time, pain episodes, need for analgesia, adverse events, and related subgroup analyses.

RESULTS

A total of nine RCTs were involved in our study, including 586 patients. We found that α-adrenergic blockers could significantly increase the rate of stone expulsion [odds ratio (OR), 3.49; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.38-5.12; p < 0.00001], reduce the stone expulsion time [mean difference (MD), -5.15; 95% CI, -8.51 to -1.80; p = 0.003], and decrease pain episodes (MD, -1.02; 95% CI, -1.33 to -0.72; p < 0.00001) and analgesia demand (MD, -0.92; 95% CI, -1.32 to -0.53; p < 0.00001) but had a higher incidence of side effects (MD, 2.83; 95% CI, 1.55 to 5.15; p = 0.0007). During subgroup analyses, different medications (tamsulosin, doxazosin, and silodosin) also exhibited better efficiencies than placebo, except for doxazosin, which showed no difference in expulsion time (MD, -1.23; 95% CI, -2.98 to 0.51; p = 0.17). The three kinds of α-adrenergic blockers also appeared to be better tolerated, except for tamsulosin with its greater number of adverse events (MD, 2.85; 95% CI, 1.34 to 6.03; p = 0.006). Silodosin led to a better expulsion rate than tamsulosin (OR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.20 to 0.92; p = 0.03). In addition, α-adrenergic blockers increased the stone expulsion rate regardless of stone size and decreased the expulsion time of stones measuring <5 mm (MD, -1.71; 95% CI, -2.91 to -0.52; p = 0.005), which was not the case for stones measuring >5 mm in expulsion time (MD, -3.61; 95% CI, -10.17 to 2.96; p = 0.28).

CONCLUSION

Our review suggests that α-adrenergic blockers are well-tolerated and efficient for treating pediatric distal urolithiasis. We also conclude that silodosin is the best choice of drug, offering a better expulsion rate, but it remains to be evaluated further by future studies.

Efficacy of combination terazosin and nifedipine therapy in postoperative treatment of distal ureteral stones after transurethral ureteroscopic lithotripsy

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Meta-analysis of the efficacy of sexual intercourse for distal ureteric stones

OBJECTIVE

This meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the efficacy of sexual intercourse for treatment of distal ureteral stones.

METHODS

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of sexual intercourse for treatment of distal ureteral stones were searched using PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register.

RESULTS

Three RCTs comprising 240 patients were included in the meta-analysis, which showed that sexual intercourse was effective in treating distal ureteral stones. The expulsion rate of distal ureteral stones at the second week (odds ratio [OR] = 6.61, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.66 to 11.94), expulsion rate of distal ureteral stones at the fourth week (OR = 4.00, 95% CI: 2.09 to 7.64), and number of analgesic injections (mean difference [MD] = -0.79, 95% CI: -1.51 to -0.08) indicated that sexual intercourse was more effective than placebo. However, the mean expulsion time of distal ureteral stones (MD = -3.98, 95% CI: -8.77 to 0.81) showed no difference between sexual intercourse and placebo.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with placebo, sexual intercourse exhibited greater efficacy for the treatment of distal ureteral stones, whilst potentially alleviating pain.

Efficacy of nifedipine and alfuzosin in the management of distal ureteric stones: A randomized, controlled study

INTRODUCTION

Stone disease is a significant and world-wide health problem. Recently, certain drugs have been used as a supplement to observation alone in an effort to improve spontaneous stone expulsion. We evaluated the efficacy of nifedipine and alfuzosin in the medical treatment of symptomatic, uncomplicated distal ureteral stones.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a randomized controlled prospective study to determine the efficacy of alfuzosin and nifedipine as an adjunctive medical therapy, to increases the stone-expulsion rates in distal ureteric calculus of size ≤10 mm. Investigators and patients were blinded to the randomization scheme. Patients were randomly divided into three equal groups of 35 patients each. Patients in Group I received tablet nifedipine 30 mg/day, Group II received alfuzosin 10 mg/day and Group III was the control group received tablet diclofenac sodium. The patient blood pressure, stone position on imaging, number of pain attacks, time of stone-expulsion, hospital re-admission and any adverse events were assessed. Patients were followed-up weekly and continued until the patient was rendered stone free or up to 28 days. Statistical analysis was performed and P < 0.05 was considered to be significant.

RESULTS

Stone-expulsion was observed in 60%, 85.7% and 20% patients in Group I, II and III respectively. A statistically significant difference was noted in between Groups I versus III, Groups II versus III and Groups I versus II (P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001, and P < 0.0315 respectively). The mean number of pain attacks was 2.91 ± 1.01 for Group I, 1.8 ± 0.83 for Group II, and 2.82 ± 1.12 for Group III, which is statistical significant in Groups II versus III, and Groups I versus II (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001). Hospital re-admission rate was less in treatment groups when compare to control group (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

The use of alfuzosin and nifedipine as a medical expulsive therapy for distal ureteric stones proved to be safe and effective in term of increased stone-expulsion rate, reduced pain attacks and decrease hospital re-admissions.

The effect of tamsulosin in the medical treatment of distal ureteral stones

INTRODUCTION

Renal stones are common disorders that affect approximately 5% to 10% of the population and the incidence of renal stones is rising. Treatment of ureteral stones is an important part of urologists and minimally invasive procedures such as ESWL and ureteroscopy effectiveness has been proven in various studies. However, these methods are not completely safe and are expensive and can be complicated. Purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of tamsulosin in the medical treatment of distal ureteral stones.

PATIENTS & METHODS

A total of 96 patients with distal ureteral stones or UVj are randomly divided into two study group (50 patients) and control group (46 patients). Patients in the control group allowed to freely consuming fluids (hydration) and indomethacin 100 mg PRN. Study group in addition to indomethacin and daily analgesic 0.4 mg tamsulosin was administered. All subjects in terms of analgesic dose, duration of expulsion and expulsion were studied.

RESULTS

Spontaneous expulsion of stone was occurred in 62.5% (30 patients out of 46) of control group patients and 82% (41 patients out of 50) that there was no significant difference (P>0.05). Average time to fix the stone in control group 4.7 ± 8.03 days (range 2 to 28 days) and in the study group, 3.7 ± 5.70 days (range 1 to 23 days) is significantly different (P>0.05). The average amount of analgesic consumption in the control group was 2.3 ± 4.31 and in the study group was 1.48 ± 2.15 that showed significant differences (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

In this study, although the addition of tamsulosin to conservative treatment of distal ureteral stones in the distal ureteral stone expulsion showed no significant difference between the two groups, but the reduction in the duration of expulsion, reduce pain and reduce the need for analgesic has been beneficial.