Tamsulosin and spontaneous expulsion of ureteral stones

ABSTRACT

ureteral stones have a high rate of spontaneous expulsion, especially when they are smaller than 6 mm. some medications including corticosteroids, Ca channel blockers and alpha-blocker have been used by some to enhance spontaneous stone passage. In this paper we evaluate the effect of Tamsulosin in spontaneous stone passage in a clinical trial study. We performed clinical trial study of 100 renal colic patients with lower ureteral stones and stone size less than 7 mm determined by CT scan, KUB or ultrasonography of UVJ region who didn't have UTI, intractable pain or any indications of immediate intervention during January 2006 and April 2007.50 of the patients got only standard regime of analgesics and 50 of them got standard regime and Tamsulosin [0.4 mg/d]. The stone expulsion rate was 60% [30/50 patients] for group A and 86% [43/50] for group B [P=0.01] with a mean expulsion time of 8.1 +/- 2.2 [range 3.5-12] and 5.1 +/- 2.7 days [range 1.8-10.5] [P=0.005]. Tamsulosin increase spontaneous stone passage and decrease expulsion time and analgesic use significantly