CJEM Articles: renal colic
Displaying 1-5 of 5 results
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July
2010
12
4
Hanna Bielawska, Norman L. Epstein
Impaction of a kidney stone in the male urethra is a rare sequela of an otherwise common disease process. Case reports of urethral stones in the recent literature are scarce. We report a case of a 48 year old man who presented with an impacted urethral stone as a complication of nephrolithiasis. The pathology was twice missed, even with computed tomography showing the stone in the prostatic urethra, which highlights the challenges of making this diagnosis. We review the existing literature outlining the pathogenesis, clinical features and therapeutic considerations as they relate to urethral stones. We underscore the role of the emergency physician in the diagnosis and initial management of this entity, and draw attention to the need to evaluate not just the upper but also the lower genitourinary tracts when interpreting computed tomographic images obtained for the diagnosis of renal colic.
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May
2010
12
3
Justin W. Yan, Karl D. Theakston, Marcia L. Edmonds, Robert J. Sedran, Shelley L. McLeod
Objective: Computed tomography (CT) is an imaging modality used to detect renal stones. However, there is concern about the lifetime cumulative radiation exposure attributed to CT. Ultrasonography (US) has been used to diagnose urolithiasis, thereby avoiding radiation exposure. The objective of this study was to determine the ability of US to identify renal colic patients with a low risk of requiring urologic intervention within 90 days of their initial emergency department (ED) visit.
Methods: We completed a retrospective medical record review for all adult patients who underwent ED-ordered renal US for suspected urolithiasis over a 1-year period. Independent, double data extraction was performed for all imaging reports and US results were categorized as “normal,” “suggestive of ureterolithiasis,” “ureteric stone seen” or “disease unrelated to urolithiasis.” Charts were reviewed to determine how many patients underwent subsequent CT and urologic intervention.
Results: Of the 817 renal US procedures ordered for suspected urolithiasis during the study period, the results of 352 (43.2%) were classified as normal, and only 2 (0.6%) of these patients required urologic intervention. The results of 177 (21.7%) renal US procedures were suggestive of ureterolithiasis. Of these, 12 (6.8%) patients required urologic intervention. Of the 241 (29.5%) patients who had a ureteric stone seen on US, 15 (6.2%) required urologic intervention. The rate of urologic intervention was significantly lower in those with normal results on US (p < 0.001) than in those with abnormal results on US.
Conclusion: A normal result on renal US predicts a low likelihood for urologic intervention within 90 days for adult ED patients with suspected urolithiasis.
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November
2007
9
6
May Liu, Sean O. Henderson
There is a medical myth that ureteral stones larger than 5 mm will not pass spontaneously and require urological intervention for removal. Recent findings indicate that medical expulsive therapy can facilitate spontaneous passage for stones up to 10 mm. For the management of ureteral stones, we recommend administering tamsulosin and a corticosteroid (deflazacort or prednisone) along with the standard therapy of analgesics, antibiotics and hydration.
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March
2005
7
2
Erica Battram, George A. Wells, Ian Ball, Ian G. Stiell, John E. Mahoney, Linda Papa
Objectives: There is no set of prospectively validated criteria to identify the emergency department (ED) patients with renal colic who are most likely to eventually have to undergo an intervention. This study prospectively assessed predictors of intervention in this patient population.
Methods: This prospective cohort study included adult patients with renal colic who presented to 2 tertiary care hospital EDs. Patients had an 18-variable data form completed by an emergency physician and a radiological study to confirm urolithiasis. After discharge, patients were followed at 1 and 4 weeks to assess for intervention. The outcome criteria included the patient having had at least 1 of the following procedures performed: extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL), ureteroscopy, percutaneous nephrostomy or open surgery. Data were analyzed using appropriate univariate techniques, and those variables associated with intervention were combined using logistic regression analysis.
Results: Over an 8-month period, 245 patients with confirmed urolithiasis were followed; 20% (95% confidence interval [CI] 15%-25%) eventually had a procedure to remove their calculi. Three variables were significantly correlated with having a procedure: i) size of calculus ≥ 6 mm (odds ratio [OR] 10.7, 95% CI 4.6-24.8), ii) location of calculus above mid-ureter (OR 6.9, 95% CI 3.0-15.9), and iii) Visual Analogue Scale score for pain at discharge from the ED ≥ 2 cm (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.0-6.8). The area under receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.77 (95% C I 0.70-0.84) (p < 0.001). If all variables were present there was a 90% probability of the patient having an intervention performed within 4 weeks of discharge from the ED. Conversely, if none of the variables were present there was only a 4% probability of an intervention. Overall, the model had a sensitivity of 92% (95% CI 89%-96%) and a specificity of 63% (95% CI 57%-69%).
Conclusions: This study has identified variables that could potentially be used to identify those renal colic patients who require an intervention after ED evaluation. Future studies will prospectively validate this model.
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April
2000
2
2
Grant D. Innes, James M. Christenson, Mary Lesperance, R. Douglas McKnight, Victor M. Wood
Objectives: Intravenous (IV) opioid titration is an accepted method of relieving acute renal colic. Studies have shown that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are also effective in this setting. Our objective was to compare single-dose ketorolac and titrated meperidine, both administered intravenously, with respect to speed and degree of analgesia, adverse effects and functional status. Our primary hypothesis was that these agents provide equivalent analgesia within 60 minutes. Our secondary hypotheses were that ketorolac-treated patients would experience fewer adverse effects and would be better able to resume usual activity.
Methods: This was a multicentre, double-blind randomized equivalence trial in a convenience sample of patients age 18–65 with moderate or severe renal colic, documented by intravenous pyelogram, ultrasound or stone passage. Meperidine-treated patients received 50 mg IV meperidine at 0 minutes, then 25–50 mg every 15 minutes as needed for ongoing pain. Ketorolac-treated patients received 30 mg IV ketorolac at 0 minutes and placebo injections every 15 minutes as needed. Pain levels and adverse effects were assessed every 15 minutes, and functional status was evaluated at 60 minutes. Our primary outcome was the proportion of patients with mild or no pain at 60 minutes.
Results: Overall, 49 of 77 meperidine-treated patients (64%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 53%–75%) and 47 of 65 ketorolac-treated patients (72%; 95% CI, 61%–83%) achieved successful pain relief at 60 minutes (p value for equivalence = 0.002). Ten percent of meperidine-treated patients and 44% of ketorolac-treated patients were able to resume usual activity at 60 minutes (p = 0.001).
Conclusions: In the doses studied, single-dose IV ketorolac is as effective as titrated IV meperidine for the relief of acute renal colic and causes less functional impairment.
