title: Is there a role for tamsulosin after shock wave lithotripsy in the treatment of renal and ureteral calculi?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our study aimed at defining the role of tamsulosin as adjunctive therapy after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) in patients with stones in the kidney and ureter.
  
  
  METHODS
  A placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind clinical trial prospectively performed between February 2008 and September 2009 on 150 patients with 4-20 mm in diameter renal and ureteral stones referred to our ESWL center. After ESWL, all patients randomly assigned to two groups (placebo and tamsulosin). The drugs administration was started immediately after ESWL and was continued for a maximum of 30 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 150 patients, 71 in control group and 70 in case group completed the study. Of 71 patients (60.56%) in control group, 43 patients became stone free; and other patients (39.44%) did not succeed in stone expulsion during 12 weeks after ESWL. In case group of 70 patients (71.4%), 50 patients became stone free. Time of stone passage in most of the patients happened between 20th and 30th day in control group (32.6%) and between 10th and 20th day (50%) in case group after ESWL. There is no statistically significant difference between stone passage in two groups (p = 0.116) and location of stone (p = 0.114), but there is statistically significant difference in time of stone passage from onset of treatment in case and control groups (p = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At last, this study suggested that tamsulosin facilitate earlier clearance of fragments after ESWL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Urology Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: Siavash
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Falahatkar
authors.forename: Iradj
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Khosropanah
authors.forename: Anahita Doustkhah
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Vajary
authors.forename: Zhoobin Heidari
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Bateni
authors.forename: Darya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Khosropanah
authors.forename: Aliakbar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Allahkhah
mesh_terms: D058668:Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077409:Tamsulosin; D014514:Ureteral Calculi / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D058668:Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists; D010919:Placebos; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000077409:Tamsulosin