title: Medical expulsive therapy for ureteral stones: where do we go from here?
abstract: Despite two decades of clinical use, the effectiveness of medical expulsive therapy (MET) for the noninvasive management of patients with ureteral stones has, in the past year, been called into in question. The primary aim of MET is to expedite stone passage, although it has also shown effectiveness in reducing time to stone passage, thus reducing the incidence of colic episodes, improving stone clearance and improving patients' quality of life. At least 11 systematic reviews and meta-analyses have been published showing clinical benefits of MET; however, the results of these analyses have been challenged by data from two randomized controlled, multicentre trials with large patient cohorts, thus providing higher quality evidence that MET is ineffective in patients with ureteral stones. Results of the various systematic reviews and meta-analyses have suggested that MET is effective, however, such analyses incorporate the biases and limitations of smaller cohort studies, resulting in their conclusions being based upon lower-quality evidence. Evidence for the use of MET for small (<5 mm) distal ureteral stones has weakened based on clinical trial data published in 2015. However, MET might remain effective in the management of larger ureteral stones (>5 mm).
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Hospital Southampton, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK.
authors.forename: Bhaskar K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Somani
authors.affiliation: Bristol Urological Institute, North Bristol NHS Trust, Southmead Hospital, Southmead Road, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Aboumarzouk
authors.affiliation: Tenon University Hospital, Pierre and Marie Curie, University, 4 rue de la Chine, 75020 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Traxer
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, AMC University Hospital, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam 1105AZ, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baard
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, AMC University Hospital, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam 1105AZ, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kamphuis
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, AMC University Hospital, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam 1105AZ, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de la Rosette
mesh_terms: D058668:Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014514:Ureteral Calculi / Q000628:therapy*; D064804:Urological Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D058668:Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D064804:Urological Agents