Current practice of antibiotic utilization for renal colic in the emergency room

ABSTRACT Introduction Urinalysis (UA) in the emergency setting for patients with nephrolithiasis produces potentially confusing results leading to treatment of presumed urinary tract infections (UTIs). Our objective was to evaluate the use of antibiotics in patients with nephrolithiasis in a large network of emergency departments (EDs). Methods A retrospective analysis of all ED visits associated with an ICD-9 diagnosis of nephrolithiasis and a CT scan between 2010 and 2013 was performed. Urinalysis data, the use of IV and PO antibiotics during the ED visit and at discharge were assessed. The presence of fever, elevated serum WBCs, >5 WBCs per hpf, and/or dip positive nitrites were used as appropriate criteria for antibiotic use. Results Urinalysis data were available for 3,518 (70%) of 5,035 patients with an ED diagnosis of nephrolithiasis and CT imaging. Of these visits, 237 patients had positive nitrites (6.7%) and 864 had >5 WBCs per hpf (24.6%) with 158 (4.5%) having both findings for a total of 943 patients. Intravenous antibiotics were given to 244 patients (25.9%) and oral antibiotics were given to 629 patients (66.7 %) with positive UA findings. Of the 2,440 patients with a negative UA and no leukocytosis or fever, 86 patients (3.5%) received IV antibiotics and 533 patients (21.8%) received PO antibiotics upon discharge. Conclusions Proper treatment of nephrolithiasis in the ED includes the screening and diagnosis of concomitant UTIs. However, correct interpretation of UA studies is vital to the correct implementation of antibiotic therapy. This study suggests that 1/3 of patients were undertreated and 21.8% were over-treated.

Restricción del ductus arterioso fetal en gestante del tercer trimestre por consumo de paracetamol / Fetal ductus arteriosus constriction in the final third of pregnancy due to paracetamol comsumption

El ductus arterioso es una derivación que conecta la arteria pulmonar con el arco aórtico el que permite la descarga del ventrículo derecho sin pasar por la alta resistencia de los pulmones. La permeabilidad del conducto arterioso se mantiene durante la gestación por las prostaglandinas producidas especialmente PGE2, que circulan a nivel local, especialmente PGE2, y la baja saturación de oxígeno fetal. Se trata de una paciente que desde la semana 20 de gestación es diagnosticada de cólico renal con la necesidad de varios ingresos y colocación de catéter doble J por parte de Urología y la cual recibió tratamiento con paracetamol intravenoso y oral. Los controles ecográficos obstétricos a los largo de la gestación fueron normales hasta que en semana 32, cuando ingresa de nuevo por cuadro sospechoso de cólico renal tratado con Paracetamol, se objetivan en ecografía hallazgos compatibles con restricción precoz del ductus arterioso. Se indicó suspender el paracetamol y los cambios se redujeron en las 48 horas posteriores y casi desaparecieron por completo una semana tras la retirada de la medicación. La gestación llegó a término y el recién nacido presentó un ecocardiograma postnatal normal. Recomendamos la restricción de los analgésicos no opiáceos en el tercer trimestre y el seguimiento con Doppler del conducto arterioso en los casos en que se requiriera usarlos(AU)

Ductus arteriosus is a derivation that connects the pulmonary artery with the aortic arch and allows the discharge from the right ventricle without passing the high resistance of lungs. Permeability of the ductus arteriosus is kept during gestation because of the production of prostaglandins, particularly PGE2, which circulates locally, and the low fetal oxygen saturation. Here is a pregnant woman who, since her 20th week of gestation was diagnosed as a renal colic case. She required several admissions to hospital and placement of double J stent in the urology service and she was treated with intravenous and oral paracetamol. Obstetric ultrasound scans throughout gestation were normal until week 32, when she was admitted to hospital again for suspected renal colic and treated again with paracetamol. At that moment, findings compatible with early ductus arteriosus constriction were observed in ultrasound. It was then decided to stop the paracetamol treatment, the changes declined in the following 48 hours and they almost disappeared completely after one week after the medication withdrawal. It was finally a term pregnancy and the postnatal echocardiogram of the newborn was normal. Restricting non-opioid analgesics in the third pregnancy trimester and the follow up of the ductus arteriosus with Doppler technique when required(AU)

Distribution of ureteral stones and factors affecting their location and expulsion in patients with renal colic

PURPOSE: To evaluate the distribution of ureteral stones and to determine their characteristics and expulsion rate based on their location. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed computed tomography (CT) findings of 246 patients who visited our Emergency Department (ED) for renal colic caused by unilateral ureteral stones between January 2013 and April 2014. Histograms were constructed to plot the distribution of stones based on initial CT findings. Data from 144 of the 246 patients who underwent medical expulsive therapy (MET) for 2 weeks were analyzed to evaluate the factors responsible for the stone distribution and expulsion. RESULTS: The upper ureter and ureterovesical junction (UVJ) were 2 peak locations at which stones initially lodged. Stones lodged at the upper ureter and ureteropelvic junction (group A) had a larger longitudinal diameter (4.21 mm vs. 3.56 mm, p=0.004) compared to those lodged at the lower ureter and UVJ (group B). The expulsion rate was 75.6% and 94.9% in groups A and B, respectively. There was no significant difference in the time interval from initiation of renal colic to arrival at the ED between groups A and B (p=0.422). Stone diameter was a significant predictor of MET failure (odds ratio [OR], 1.795; p=0.005) but the initial stone location was not (OR, 0.299; p=0.082). CONCLUSIONS: The upper ureter and UVJ are 2 peak sites at which stones lodge. For stone size 10 mm or less, initial stone lodge site is not a significant predictor of MET failure in patients who have no previous history of active stone treatment in the ureter.

Efficacy and safety of parecoxib in the treatment of acute renal colic: a randomized clinical trial

PURPOSE: Although nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (nsNSAIDs) and opioids are effective treatments for acute renal colic, they are associated with adverse events (AEs). As cyclooxygenase-2 selective NSAIDs may provide a safer alternative, we compared the efficacy and safety of parecoxib versus an nsNSAID in subjects with acute renal colic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Phase IV., multicenter, double-blind, noninferiority, active-controlled study: 338 subjects with acute renal colic were randomized to parecoxib 40 mg i.v. plus placebo (n = 174) or ketoprofen 100 mg IV plus placebo (n = 164). 338 subjects with acute renal colic were randomized to parecoxib 40 mg IV (n = 174) or ketoprofen 100 mg IV(n = 164) plus placebo. Subjects were evaluated 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 minutes after treatment start and 24 hours after discharge. Primary endpoint was the mean pain intensity difference (PID) at 30 minutes by visual analog scale (VAS) (per-protocol population). An ANCOVA model was used with treatment group, country, and baseline score as covariates. Non-inferiority of parecoxib to ketoprofen was declared if the lower bound of the 95 percent confidence interval (CI) for the difference between the two groups excluded the pre-established margin of 10 mm for the primary endpoint. RESULTS: Baseline demographics were similar. The mean (SD) mPID30 min was 33.84 (24.61) and 35.16 (26.01) for parecoxib and ketoprofen, respectively. For treatment difference (parecoxib-ketoprofen) the lower bound of the 95 percent CI was 6.53. The mean change from baseline in VAS 30 minutes after study medication was ~43 mm; AEs were comparable between treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Parecoxib is as effective as ketoprofen in the treatment of pain due to acute renal colic, is well tolerated, and has a comparable safety profile.