title: Medical expulsive treatment of distal-ureteral stones using tamsulosin: a single-center experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of the addition of tamsulosin to our standard expulsive pharmacologic therapy for the treatment of distal-ureteral stones.
  
  
  METHODS
  A series of 96 patients referred to our department for the management of symptomatic distal-ureteral calculi were randomly divided into group 1 (N = 46) who received diclofenac (100 mg/daily) plus aescin (80 mg/daily) and group 2 (N = 50) who received the same therapy plus tamsulosin (0.4 mg/daily) for a maximum of 2 weeks. There were no differences between the groups with respect to age, sex, or stone size. The primary endpoint was the expulsion rate. Expulsion time, need for analgesics, need for hospitalization, and drug side effects were the secondary endpoints.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expulsion rate was significantly higher in group 2 (90%) than in group 1 (58.7%; P = 0.01), and group 2 achieved stone passage in a shorter time (mean 4.4 v 7.5 days, respectively; P = 0.005). Lower analgesic use was found in group 2 (P = 0.003), as well as significantly fewer hospitalizations for recurrent colic (P = 0.01). Both groups experienced few side effects associated with expulsive therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A conservative approach should be considered as an option in the management of uncomplicated distal-ureteral stones. Even if the best pharmacologic expulsive regimen remains to be established, the use of the selective alpha-blocker tamsulosin is recommended in this setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Second University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Sio
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Autorino
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Lorenzo
authors.forename: Rocco
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Damiano
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cosentino
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pane
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Giacomo
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mordente
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Armiento
mesh_terms: D058668:Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004928:Escin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077409:Tamsulosin; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014514:Ureteral Calculi / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D058668:Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D013449:Sulfonamides; D004008:Diclofenac; D004928:Escin; D000077409:Tamsulosin