To Compare the Efficacy of Tamsulosin and Deflazacort Combination with Tamsulosin Alone in Expulsion of Lower Ureteric Stones in a Medical College in South Haryana

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Men have been suffering from urinary stones since antiquity. Symptomatic ureteric stone is a very common emergency condition faced by general surgeons and urologists. There are many medical and interventional treatments for lower ureteric stones. Removal of stone with ureteroscopy is very effective but this is very costly also. Anesthetist is required; stent is placed in ureter which has to be removed afterward. Stones of size <4 mm will pass hopefully spontaneously. Stones more than 10 mm size will require surgery in general. The expulsion of stones of size 4–10 mm can be tried with the help of pharmacological agents. Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in the Surgery Department at SGT Medical College located in South Haryana. A total of 150 patients of distal ureteric stones of sizes 4–10 mm were taken in this study, divided into two groups of 75 patients each. Group I patients were given tamsulosin 0.4 mg and deflazacort 30 mg once in a day and Group II patients were given tamsulosin 0.4 mg once in a day. Treatment was for 10 days. Results: In Group I, the stones were expelled in 24 (32%) patients. While in Group II, 11 (14.6%) patients passed stones. This is statistically significant with P = 0.023. The median time for stone expulsion was 192 h in Group I and 312 h in Group II with again a significant P = 0.039. Conclusion: We conclude that Group I (tamsulosin + deflazacort) showed a statistically significant advantage in stone expulsion rate than Group II (tamsulosin alone). Group I also showed a statistically significant advantage in stone expulsion time.