Loading...
A recent meta-analysis concluded that tamsulosin promotes ureteral stone passage for stones 4–10 mm in size but is not helpful for smaller stones (NEJM JW Emerg Med Oct 2016 and Ann Emerg Med 2017; 69:353). Now, investigators report on a six-center U.S. study of tamsulosin in patients with ureteral stones <9 mm in diameter. In this double-blind, randomized controlled, 512 emergency department patients with computed tomography-confirmed stones received tamsulosin (0.4 mg) or placebo daily for 28 days.
There was no significant difference in the rate of stone passage within 28 days between the tamsulosin and placebo groups (50% and 47%). Of note, in the subgroup of 133 patients (26%) with stones measuring 5–9 mm in diameter, there was no appare…