Comparison of Tamsulosin versus Tadalafil as an Effective Expulsive Treatment for Distal Ureteral Stones – A Prospective Comparative Study

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The increasing prevalence of ureteric stone is a matter of concern in this era and it may be linked to improvedquality of life. Medical expulsive therapy, including alpha-blockers, steroids, and calcium channel blockers, has been extensivelystudied for improving the rate of stone passage in patients who do not require immediate urologic intervention.Aim: The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of tamsulosin and tadalafil in expulsive treatment for distal ureteralstones.Materials and Methods: This was a prospective comparative study included 120 adult patients (>18 years of age) presentingwith distal ureteric stones were randomized into 60 patients with tamsulosin 0.4 mg once daily (Group A) or 60 patients withtadalafil 10 mg once daily (Group B) treatment. Therapy was given for a maximum of 4 weeks.Results: About 85% of study patients had a size between 5 mm and 7 mm and 18 patients had size between 8 mm and 10 mm.There was no statistical difference noted in the pain duration and analgesic usage of both groups. In Group A, 67% of patientshad expulsion of stones; in Group B, 63% of patients had expulsion of stones. About 90% of patients in 40 cases of expelledstones are in <5 days in Group A and 89% of patients 38 cases of expelled stones are in <5 days in Group B. There was nostatistical difference noted between both groups.Conclusion: Tamsulosin and tadalafil have shown similar expulsion rate. Both of them simultaneously provides better paincontrol and significantly lower the needs for analgesia.