Medical expulsive therapy.
OBJECTIVE
Researchers have recently sought out pharmacologic means of increasing rates of urinary stone passage. We outline the current understanding in medical expulsive therapy.


RESULTS
We review available articles characterizing pharmaceutical agents including alpha receptor antagonists as medical expulsive agents.


CONCLUSIONS
Medical expulsive therapy for ureteral stones provides a nonsurgical option for patients with ureteral stones. In view of the available clinical trials and meta-analysis, patients with distal ureteral stones measuring less than 1 cm who are candidates for observation warrant a trial of medical expulsive therapy.
Sterrett
Samuel P
SP
Division of Urology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Nakada
Stephen Y
SY
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077409:Tamsulosin; D052878:Urolithiasis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000077409:Tamsulosin