Tamsulosin in the management of distal ureteric calculi

Introductions: Ureteral stones account for 20% urinary stone. Two third ofureteral stones are seen in lower third of ureter. Medical expulsive therapy iseffective for such stones. This study was designed to observe the efficacy of‘tamsulosin’ a selective alpha-1 adrenoreceptor antagonist in the managementof lower ureteric stone.Methods: A cross sectional study of 70 cases of distal ureteral stones of sizes 5to 10 mm was taken in the Department of Surgery of Shree Birendra Hospital,Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences (NAIHS) from January 2011 to2013. Patients were randomly divided into tamsulosin and analgesic onlygroups. Stone expulsion at the end of three weeks was confirmed by X-ray orUltrasonography.Results: Out of 70 patients, stone clearance rate in tamsulosin group was 28in 35 cases (80%) and 21 in 35 cases (60%) in group II with analgesic only. The mean time of stone expulsion was 8.3 days in group I and 13.5 days in group II.Conclusions: In this study the use of tamsulosin in treatment of lower ureteralstones less than 10 mm was safe and effective.Keywords: alpha blockers, ureteral stone, tamsulosi