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Ureteric colic has been an age-old problem encountered in medical practice. Ureteric stones are a known cause of this problem. Many conservative medical therapies have been researched and studied. Tamsulosin, an Alpha 1A specific inhibitor which was initially used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia has recently been shown to increase the rate of spontaneous passage of distal ureteral stones. Alpha adrenergic blocker Tamsulosin reduces muscles spasm in the ureteric wall, decreases peristalsis below and raises pressure above the stone thus facilitating stone passage. Use of Tamsulosin 0.4 mg daily in patients with distal ureteric stones is clinically safe and cost effective.

Objective: To determine the diagnostic value of ultrasound signs of urinary stones less than or equal to 10 mm and to determine clinico-radiological variants of ureteric colic. Methods: A total of 455 ultrasound investigations were performed in patients referring to emergency department with urolithiasis and symptoms suspected of ureteric colic between January 2021 and May 2021. In addition to microscopic evaluation of urine sediment to detect different crystals and non-contrast spiral computed tomography to detect stones, B-mode and color Doppler sonography was performed to assess the presence of acoustic shadow (AS) and twinkle artifacts (TA) as possible signs of stone(s) in ureter. Results: While the sensitivity and specificity of AS and TA were higher than 90% in patients with stones greater than 5 mm; positive prognostic values of these parameters were found to be extremely low for stones with sizes of 1–3 mm with specificity and sensitivity values not exceeding 53%. The sensitivity and specificity of AS and TA in the upper and lower ureters were higher for stones greater than or equal to 5 than for compared to those less than 5 mm. At the same time, the diagnostic values of TA and AS for middle ureter stones were very limited. The most prevalent clinico-radiological variants of ureteric colic were types I, III, and V being observed in 39%, 28% and 21% cases, respectively. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that TA and AS parameters seem to have a very low sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of urinary stones less than 5 mm. The diagnostic value of TA and AS increase significantly in stones greater than or equal to 5 mm. Therefore, clinicians need to be very careful for overestimating the diagnostic values of TA and AS for stones less than 5 mm and non-contrast spiral computed tomography must be the method of choice for patients presenting to emergency department with ureteric colic.

BACKGROUND Imaging plays a major role in the diagnosis and management of patients with urolithiasis. Non-Contrast Computed Tomography (NCCT) is generally accepted as the gold standard, but there are concerns over higher radiation exposure from NCCT to the patient population. Our prospective study compared the diagnostic accuracy of plain X-ray KUB (Kidney, Ureter, Bladder) and USG (Ultrasonography) with NCCT in the evaluation of patients with ureteric colic. METHODS This study conducted from December 2018 to January 2020 in the Department of Urology, Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences, and attached Hospital. 230 patients with ureteric colic were evaluated for ureteric calculi with x-ray KUB, USG (Ultrasonography) abdomen and pelvis and NCCT (Non-Contrast Computed Tomography) KUB region. RESULTS Out of 230 patients, 168 (73 %) were males and 62 (26.9 %) were females. Ages of the study population ranged from 18 to 55 yrs. 198 of the 230 patients were confirmed to have ureteric calculus, with lower ureteric calculus 97 (48.9 %), upper ureteric 65 (32.8 %), middle ureteric 29 (14.6 %), and multiple 7 (3.5 %). X-ray and USG (Ultrasonography) group yielded a sensitivity of 86.3 %, a specificity of 87.5 %, positive predictive value 97 %, and negative predictive value 51 %. While On NCCT (Non-Contrast Computed Tomography), a total of 192 patients (96 %) demonstrated ureterolithiasis of the 198 patients confirmed to have ureteric calculi (Table 2). X-ray and USG group yielded a sensitivity of 96.9 %, specificity of 93.6 %, positive predictive value 98.9 %, and negative predictive value 83 %. CONCLUSIONS Combination of x-ray KUB and USG, and NCCT were found to be excellent imaging modalities for the detection of ureteric calculi. X-ray KUB and USG can be used as the first investigation of choice for patients with ureteric colic and for follow up of patients after treatment. KEYWORDS Ureteric Colic, Ureterolithiasis, Ultrasonography

ObjectiveThe WHO declared SARS-CoV-2 a pandemic on 11th March 2020 prompting a rapid change to surgical practice. This study focuses on how the management of ureteric colic has adapted in a major tertiary referral unit during the peak of the pandemic so that lessons be can be learned in case a second wave occurs. Materials and MethodsWe compared admission rates and treatment patterns against national and European guidelines in 20 weeks, divided into pre- and peri-pandemic. ResultsA total of 72 patients were admitted during the study period. 64% (46/72) were admitted pre-pandemic. 22% (10/46) of these were septic (5 stented, 5 nephrostomized) while 20% (9/46) were managed conservatively. 59% (27/46) of pre-pandemic admissions were suitable for active treatment, of which 48% (13/27) received definitive treatment (11 ureteroscopy (URS), 2 shockwave lithotripsy (SWL)) all within 48 hours of admis-sion. 52% (14/27) had temporising procedures (11 stented, 3 nephrostomized) and underwent definitive treatment within 63 days.Of the total patients, 36% (26/72) were admitted peri-pandemic. 23% (6/26) were septic (1 stent, 5 nephrostomized), while 31% (8/26) were managed conservatively. 46% (12/26) were suitable for active treatment. 75% (9/12) received definitive treatment (4 URS, 5 SWL) of which 33% (4/12) within 48 hours and the remaining treated and stone free within 12 days. 25% (3/12) had temporising procedures (2 stented, 1 nephrostomized), with the definitive treatment provided within 17 days. ConclusionUreteric colic admissions were reduced by almost half during the pandemic. There has been increased primary treatment with a reduction in temporising procedures and time to receiving definitive treatment. In the ‘new normal,’ lessons learned must be carried forward to maintain high rates of definitive treatments.

OBJECTIVE To determine the diagnostic accuracy of ultra-low-dose computed tomography (ULDCT) compared with standard-dose CT (SDCT) in the evaluation of patients with clinically suspected renal colic, in addition to secondary features (hydroureteronephrosis, perinephric stranding) and additional pathological entities (renal masses). PATIENTS AND METHODS A prospective, comparative cohort study was conducted amongst patients presenting to the emergency department with signs and symptoms suggestive of renal or ureteric colic. Patients underwent both SDCT and ULDCT. Single-blinded review of the image sets was performed independently by three board-certified radiologists. RESULTS Among 21 patients, the effective radiation dose was lower for ULDCT [mean (SD) 1.02 (0.16) mSv] than SDCT [mean (SD) 4.97 (2.02) mSv]. Renal and/or ureteric calculi were detected in 57.1% (12/21) of patients. There were no significant differences in calculus detection and size estimation between ULDCT and SDCT. A higher concordance was observed for ureteric calculi (75%) than renal calculi (38%), mostly due to greater detection of calculi of

Introduction The British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) released guidance in 2018 regarding the optimum management of acute ureteric colic: a condition which can present as a surgical emergency. Our aim was to review the current practice at our hospital in diagnosing and managing acute ureteric colic and ultimately, implement sustainable change to address any areas of limitations. Method The following data was retrospectively collected for of all patients admitted with acute ureteric colic: investigations performed, medications administered, details of surgical intervention and follow-up. 1st Cycle: March 2017 to February 2018. Intervention: Teaching sessions delivered to staff (including doctors and nurses) in the A&E and urology department. 2nd Cycle: January 2019 to December 2019. Results 268 patients presented to A&E with ureteric colic – 18% increase from previous year. On admission: 60.4% of patients had serum calcium checked, 97.7% had a CT KUB performed within 24 hours and 67.2% were given NSAIDs; this is a 20.4%, 0.4% and 5.2% increase from the previous year, respectively. Only 31.3% of patients had an acute surgical intervention. The average wait time for clinic follow-up was reduced to 41 days following departmental education, but only 26.4% of patients were seen within the BAUS advised 4-week timeframe. Conclusions Re-audit showed distinct improvement in the management of acute ureteric colic. Thus, departmental education strategies have had a positive impact. It is recommended that the reservation of one daily elective theatre slot for an emergency operation and a computerised clinic booking system will further optimise our management in line with BAUS guidance.

Aim To assess how many patients had a non-contrast CT as first-line investigation for suspected renal colic, and how this was affected by the release of the 2019 NICE guidelines. A secondary aim was to assess the proportion of patients who had CT KUBs that demonstrated a ureteric calculus. Method CT KUB scans performed over two separate 3 month periods were identified. These reflected periods of time before and after the new NICE guidelines. Electronic records were used to assess if the patients had an ultrasound performed as the initial diagnostic investigation, instead of a CT scan. The results of the scans were reviewed to identify if a ureteric or renal calculus had been positively identified. Results In the period before the new guidelines, 61 patients were scanned. 4 had an ultrasound to assess for a stone prior to a CT. All of these patients were medical inpatients. None of the ultrasounds diagnosed a stone. 22/61 patients had CT-proven stones (36%) In the period after the new guidelines, 79 patients were scanned. 12 had an ultrasound to assess for a stone prior to a CT. 8 were medical patients, 3 were surgical and 1 was gynaecological. 1 ultrasound diagnosed a stone. 28/79 patients had CT-proven stones (35.4%) Conclusions The release of new guidelines did not improved compliance with suggested imaging pathways. This clearly demonstrates an area for improvement. It is also worth noting that only 1/3 of referrals with suspected renal colic did actually have a stone, which has implications for specialty referral pathways.

Objective: To assess the utility of trans-vaginal ultrasonography in evaluation of non-pregnant sexually active female patients with lower ureteric calculi. Methods: A prospective study was done from January 2015 to December 2017 including non-pregnant sexually active females with suspected ureteric calculus. Trans-abdominal ultrasound was initially done in all patients. In those patients in whom trans-abdominal ultrasound was inconclusive or there was indirect evidence of lower ureteric calculus in form of ureteral dilation but no calculus was evident, trans-vaginal ultrasound was done. The patients with ureteric calculi detected on trans-vaginal ultrasound and kept on conservative management were also followed up with trans-vaginal ultrasound. Non-contrast computed tomography was done in patients with inconclusive trans-vaginal ultrasound. Results: As per the study protocol, 156 out of the total 468 patients evaluated by trans-abdominal ultrasound were eligible for trans-vaginal ultrasound. Trans-vaginal ultrasound was done in 149 patients, as seven patients did not give consent. Seventy-nine patients were detected with a lower ureteric calculus on trans-vaginal ultrasound and 27 patients had gynecologic or other cause for their symptoms. Forty-three patients had an inconclusive trans-vaginal ultrasound of which 36 underwent non-contrast computed tomography, among them only one patient had a lower ureteric calculus. Stone free status could be easily demonstrated on follow-up trans-vaginal ultrasound. Conclusion: Trans-vaginal ultrasound in addition to trans-abdominal ultrasound is a very useful tool in evaluation of sexually active females with suspected lower ureteric calculus. Keywords: Trans-abdominal ultrasound, Trans-vaginal ultrasound, Lower ureteric calculus, Ureteric colic, Ureter

BACKGROUND ESWL is suitable for stones smaller than 2 cm situated in upper and middle calyx. The routine insertion of DJ stents during ESWL of renal calculi is controversial. Some studies support the role of DJ stents in facilitating stone passage and preventing renal colic whereas other reports claim that stent causes significant lower urinary tract symptoms, hematuria, urinary tract infection and can even lower the stone-free rate. METHODS This is a prospective study conducted among 81 patients each in stented and non stented group who underwent ESWL for renal calculus. The primary outcome measured was stone fragmentation .The secondary outcomes measured were renal colic, urinary tract infection, steinstrasse and stent related LUTS. RESULTS Stone fragmentation rates in stented and non-stented groups were 91.4% and 86.4% respectively (p-value > 0.05). Ureteric colic in the stented group was only 14.8% but 45.7% in the non-stented group had ureteric colic (p-value

Objective To assess the effectiveness of a telemedicine service for ureteric colic patients in reducing the number of unnecessary face-to-face consultations and shortening waiting time for appointments. Methods A telemedicine workflow was implemented as a quality improvement study using the Plan-Do-Study-Act method. All patients presenting with ureteric colic without high-risk features of fever, severe pain, and hydronephrosis, were recruited, and face-to-face appointments to review scan results were replaced with phone consultations. Data were prospectively collected over 3 years (January 2017 to December 2019). Patient outcomes including the reduction in face-to-face review visits, time to review, reattendance and intervention rates, were tracked in an interrupted time-series analysis, and qualitative feedback was obtained from patients and clinicians. Results Around 53.2% of patients presenting with ureteric colic were recruited into the telemedicine workflow. A total of 465 patients (46.2%) had normal scan results and 250 patients (24.9%) did not attend their scan appointments, hence reducing the number of face-to-face consultations by 71.1%. A total of 230 patients (22.9%) required subsequent follow-up with urology, while 61 patients (6.1%) were referred to other specialties. Mean (SD) time to review was 30.0 (6.2) days, 6-month intervention rate was 3.4% (n = 34) and unplanned reattendance rate was 3.2% (n = 32). Around 93.1% of patients reported satisfaction with the service. Conclusion The ureteric colic telemedicine service successfully and sustainably reduced the number of face-to-face consultations and time to review without compromising on patient safety. The availability of this telemedicine service has become even more important in helping us provide care to patients with ureteric colic in the current COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To perform a systematic review to identify the clinical, fiscal and environmental evidence on the use of urological telehealth and/or virtual clinic strategies. Our secondary aim was to highlight research gaps in this rapidly evolving field. METHODS: Our PROSPERO registered (CRD42019151946) systematic search of Embase, Medline and Cochrane Review Database was performed for original research articles pertaining to adult urology telehealth or virtual clinic strategies. Risk of bias (RoB) assessment performed according to Cochrane 2.0 RoB or Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist for non-randomised studies. RESULTS: 5,813 participants met inclusion from 18 original articles (2 randomised controlled trials; 10 prospective; 6 retrospective). Urology sub-specialities: Uro-oncology (n=6), General urology (n=8), Endo-urology (n=2), and Lower urinary tract symptoms and/or incontinence (n=2). Across all sub-specialties, prospective studies utilising VC reported: primary median VC discharge rate of 16.6% (IQR 14.7%-29.8%) and primary median face-to-face (FTF) clinic referral rate of 32.4% (IQR 15.5%-53.3%). Further, direct cost analysis demonstrated a median annual cost-savings of £56,232 (IQR £46,260-£61,116). Grade II and IIIb complications were reported in two acute ureteric colic studies, with a rate of 0.20% (3/1,534) and 0.13% (2/1,534), respectively. Annual carbon footprint avoided ranged from 0.7 to 4.35 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions, depending on mode of transport utilised. Patient satisfaction was inconsistently reported, and assessments lacked prospective evaluation using validated questionnaires. CONCLUSION: Virtual urology clinics are a promising new platform which can offer clinical, financial and environmental benefits to support an increasing urological referral burden. Further prospective evidence is required across urological subspecialties to confirm equivalency and safety against traditional face-to-face assessment.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE:Renal colic is a common urological problem with a lifetime incidence of approximately 8-19% in males and 3-5% in females. The MIMIC Study was a 4171 patient cohort study ...

In this special COVID-19 edition of JELEU, we start with three articles that discuss aspects of urological management that have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic: the impact of living with cystinuria, the challenges of delivering a urodynamic service, and the consequences of adding a CT chest to a CTKUB for patients with pain suggestive of ureteric colic.

Patients with ureteric calculi usually present with ipsilateral “loin to groin” pain. Rarely ureteric colic may present with contralateral pain, which is referred to as “mirror pain”. We report the case notes of a rare presentation of contralateral ureteric colic or “mirror pain” secondary to a ureteric calculus. A comprehensive literature review was also conducted. “Mirror pain” or contralateral ureteric colic is rare. Urologists should be aware of this unusual clinical presentation and appreciate that upper urinary tract calculi can cause pain on the contralateral side.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES:Ureteric colic is a common condition that causes severe pain and generates substantial health system utilization. Traditional management includes analgesia and a trial o...

Objectives: The objective was to determine accuracy of ultrasound in thediagnosis of ureteric calculi confirmed on non-contrast Computed Tomography amongpatients with acute ureteric colic. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: EmergencyDepartment of Nishtar Hospital, Multan. Period: 11-07-2012 to 10-01-2013. Materials andMethods: 100 consecutive patients presenting with acute severe ureteric colic and fulfillingthe inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled for the study from the emergency departmentof Nishtar Hospital Multan. Ultrasonography was done in all patients and USG findings wererecorded for the presence or absence of hyperechoic shadows in the ureteric. All the patientsunderwent CT scan to confirm or refute the findings of Ultrasonography. Result: Mean age ofthe patients was 37.85 + 12.60 years. Males were 53 (53%) while females were 47 (47%). Meanduration of pain before presentation was 14.81 + 6.20 hours. Mean severity of pain on visualanalogue scale was 9.40 + 0.8. Overall 79 patients were diagnosed as having ureteric calculi.Ultrasonography detected the ureteric stone in 75 patients and was all found to have stoneon CT scan and represented true positives. Among 25 patients in whom ultrasound did notdemonstrate any stone, 4 were found to have ureteric stone on CT scan thus representing falsenegative whereas 21 (84%) were confirmed on CT scan not to have any stone, thus representingTrue negatives. The sensitivity of USG for detection of ureteric stone was found to be 94.9%,the specificity was 100%, and positive predictive value was 100% while negative predictivevalue was 84% .There was no significant effect of age or gender on the accuracy of ultrasound.Conclusion: Ultrasonography is a readily available, non-invasive and reliable investigation inpatients presenting with acute flank pain to diagnose ureteric stones with a specificity of 100%and a sensitivity approaching 95%. Thus it is recommended that it should be used routinely forthe evaluation of patients presenting with acute flank pain.

Acute flank pain is a common presentation to the emergency department (ED), and imaging studies play an important role in establishing an accurate diagnosis. Computed Tomography of Kidneys, Ureters, Bladder (CT KUB) has surpassed all other imaging modalities to become the gold standard in detection of ureteric calculi. The purpose of this study is to identify the range and management of alternative diagnoses established by CT KUB in patients with suspected ureteric colic. Two hundred and fifteen consecutive CT KUB examinations ordered in the ED of a tertiary-care centre for suspected ureteric colic were retrospectively reviewed. This comprised of 134 male (62.3%) and 81 female (37.7%) patients with a mean age of 53 years old. The positive detection rate for ureteric calculi in males was 43.3% compared to a lower rate for females of 29.6% (p < 0.05). Almost two-thirds of patients were discharged following CT KUB imaging, and admission rates were significantly higher in those with alternative radiological findings (p < 0.04) Alternative radiological findings occurred in 72 patients (33.5%), including 15 patients (7.0%) who had clinically important alternative pathology. The rate of clinically important alternative findings was significantly higher in males than females, 9.7% versus 2.5% respectively (p = 0.04). Surgical intervention was more common in patients with alternative radiological findings classified as gastrointestinal (18.2%) compared to non-gastrointestinal (3.6%), however this did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.07). In conclusion, significant alternative pathology was identified using CT KUB in 7% of patients with suspected ureteric colic. The low rates of detection of ureteric calculi and significant alternative pathology in female patients suggests a more thorough clinical assessment is warranted to improve their management, prior to ordering investigations with exposure to radiation.

Result: One hundred ninety-five procedures were performed on 167 patients. One hundred twenty-seven (65.1%) procedures were urgent and 68 (34.9%) were elective. The cohort included 131 males and 36 females with a mean age of 41.5 years, a range of 19 to 74. One hundred fortynine (76.4%) procedures were performed on male patients, while 46 (23.5%) were performed on female patients. The mean stone size for patients undergoing urgent URS was 7.7 mm and 8.3 mm for elective procedures; approximately one-third of patients had more than one stone. Eighty-one stones in the urgent group were distally located; fifty-seven were in the elective group. The most common indication for urgent URS was pain refractory to injectable analgesia. LASER was used in 182 (93.3%) procedures, 179 (91.7%) procedures were urgent. Seventeen (8.7%) complications were documented for urgent URS and 8 (4.1%) for elective cases, no statistical significance, P value = 0.74.

Introduction: Ureteral colic is a common painful disorder. Early surgical intervention is an attractive management option but existing evidence does not clarify which patients benefit. Based on lack of evidence, current national specialty guidelines provide conflicting recommendations regarding who is a candidate for early intervention. We compared treatment failure rates in patients receiving early intervention to those in patients offered spontaneous passage to identify subgroups that benefit from early intervention. Methods: We used administrative data and structured chart review to study consecutive patients attending one of nine hospitals in two provinces with an index emergency department (ED) visit and a confirmed 2.0-9.9 mm ureteral stone. We described patient, stone and treatment variables, and used multivariable regression to identify factors associated with treatment failure, defined as the need for rescue intervention or hospitalization within 60 days. Our secondary outcome was ED revisit rate. Results: Overall, 1168 (37.9%) of 3081 eligible patients underwent early intervention. Patients with small stones Conclusion: This study clarifies stone characteristics that identify patients likely to benefit from early intervention. We recommend low-risk patients with uncomplicated stones 5mm, or any stone >7mm, be offered early intervention.

Background Computed tomography is considered as an imaging modality of choice in acute ureteric colic. However due to concerns regarding radiation exposure, sonograms are re-emerging as imaging methods in such situations.Objectives To evaluate the role of sonography in detection of calculus in acute ureteric colic.Methods Total 384 patients were enrolled. Hydronephrosis was graded as mild, moderate or severe. Calculus was detected as an intraluminal echogenic focus with distal shadowing with twinkling artifact. Number, size and position of the calculi were assessed. Patients were categorized into four groups:I. ureteric colic only II. ureteric colic with hematuria III. ureteric colic with hydronephrosis and IV. ureteric colic with hematuria and hydronephrosis and then the possibility of detection of calculi has been compared among these groups.Results Out of 384 patients, 254 were found to have calculi ranging between 2.7-27mm. Nineteen had in the pelvis/ pelviureteric junction, 64 in proximal ureter, 125 in distal ureter, 6 at iliac crossing and 40 at vesicoureteric junction. Two hundred forty one had single and 14 had multiple calculi. Calculus detection is easier in category III and IV patients. The sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography were 87.98% and 93.07%. Degree of hydronephrosis is strongly correlated with the number of calculi but weakly correlated with the size of the calculus.Conclusion Sonogram can be used in all cases of acute ureteric colic. Hydronephrosis is the most important finding because it paves the way out for the detection of calculus.Kathmandu University Medical Journal Vol.12(1) 2014: 9-15

Background: Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) became the first line in the treatment of ureteric stone after failure of conservative treatment because of its safety, simplicity and effectiveness. It is not invasive procedure and can be done on outpatient basis without anesthesia and with few complications which is most probably temporary and treatable. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficiency and safety of ESWL in treatment of ureteric stone in Iraq. Materials and Methods: A total of 112 Iraqi patients with ureteric stones were participated in this prospective observational study in which patients scheduled for ESWL treatment for a period of 6 months. Patients were divided into 2 groups: 1) Group 1: 52 patients with proximal ureteric stone; 2) Group 2: including 60 patients with distal ureteric stone. Preoperatively all patient underwent bowel preparation and were asked to fast for 8 hours before the procedure. Results: The age ranged between 22 and 55 with mean of 42 (SD = 5) years. Around 46% had proximal ureteric stone and the rest were in distal ureter. Around 44% needed one session and 40% needed two sessions to be stone-free respectively. In regards to associated symptoms, 74% had ureteric colic, 3% haematuria, 43% microhematuria and 12% UTI. Mild hydronephrosis was found in 90% of the cases and 30 reported had previous intervention. Success rate was 90%. Conclusions: ESWL is safe and effective in treatment of ureteric stone with few complications and must be regarded first choice after conservative treatment in a patient with uncomplicated ureteric stone.

Medical expulsive therapy (MET) is one of the most common conservative modality of treatment offered by general practitioners for ureteric colic and calculi. In many occasions, such treatment may have beneficial effect, but might be counter-productive, if offered inappropriately. We report a case of unilateral pelvi-ureteric junction obstruction with a large, redundant, extra renal pelvis that was misinterpreted in ultrasonography as hydroureteronephrosis. The dilatation was assumed to be due to ureteric calculus and hence treated with MET, that resulted in forniceal rupture and urinoma. The aim of this article is to highlight the possible catastrophe that can result as a result of inappropriate administration of MET, especially in those patients treated based on empirical diagnosis of ureteric colic.

Background Acute appendicitis is a common surgical condition that is usually managed with early surgery, and is associated with low morbidity and mortality. However, some patients may have atypical symptoms and physical findings that may lead to a delay in diagnosis and increased complications. Ascending subhepatic appendicitis presenting with right upper abdominal pain may be clinically indistinguishable from acute pathology in the gallbladder, liver, biliary tree, right kidney and right urinary tract. Aim of the work To study the role of multidetector computed tomography in diagnosis of subhepatic appendicitis. Subjects & methods In the current study, we included fifteen patients diagnosed radiologically and confirmed surgically as subhepatic appendicitis. Ultrasonography followed by multidetector computed tomographic examination were performed to all patients before surgery. Results The clinical diagnosis of the patients included in this study at presentation was acute cholecystitis in four patients, pyelonephritis in three, and ureteric colic in three. Five patients were referred with uncertain diagnosis. The presence of subhepatic appendicitis was confirmed sonographically only in two patients. Computed tomography (CT) identified correctly subhepatic appendicitis in all cases. Conclusion Our study indicates the usefulness of multidetector CT in diagnosing atypical ascending subhepatic appendicitis.

BackgroundA significant number of patients presenting with ureteric colic and other urinary symptoms have been observed at Rikillagaskada District Base Hospital, situated in the Nuwara-Eliya District, Sri Lanka. Materials and MethodsClinical and demographical features of a total of 116 patients presenting with features of urinary stone disease were analysed from May 2010 to December 2011. ResultsThe mean age of the study sample was 46.61 years (SD=13.22) (range: 18-81 years). This included 72 (62.1%) males with a mean age of 47.69 ± 14.28 years, while the mean age of females was 44.84 ± 11.21 years. The major presenting symptom was flank pain (in 89.7 % of participants) , and dysuria (in 56% of participants). Forty two (36.2%) patients had a past history of ureteric colic. ConclusionsFurther studies with larger populations will be useful in further characterization of clinical and epidemiological data of the population.

A 58-year-old gentleman presented with right side ureteric colic for six months duration. He had undergone an extended pyelolithotomy for a pelviureteric junction calculus 10 years back and he had defaulted follow up. His X-ray KUB revealed a large renal calculus with a calcified feeding tube, along with a large bladder calculus with encrustation of the tube in the bladder. Cystolitholapaxy was performed for the bladder calculus, and percutaneous nephrolithotomy was performed and the renal calculus along with the calcified feeding tube was removed. At the end of the procedure, the patient was left with only a single incision of 2cm length.

Clinical questionDo calcium channel blockers or alpha blockers improve renal stone passage when compared with placebo?Article chosenPickard R, Starr K, MacLennan G, et al. Medical expulsive therapy in adults with ureteric colic: a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet 2015;386(9991):25-31, doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60933-3.

A case of a 45-year old woman with an ovarian dermoid cyst causing ureteric colic secondary to distal ureteral obstruction is reported. The dermoid cyst was observed on computed tomography to be adjacent to and compressing the distal left ureter and this was confirmed at surgical exploration. Following oophorectomy, the patient's symptoms completely resolved and the excised ovarian cyst was confirmed on pathological evaluation to be a dermoid cyst. This appears to be the first reported case of ureteral obstruction caused by an ovarian dermoid cyst in the English medical literature.

Aortic aneurysms are very rare in Middle East unlike Europe and America. Therefore, this pathology is very likely to be missed in acute presentation to the Emergency Medicine Department. We present a case of leaking abdominal aortic aneurysm mimicking right ureteric colic, which was missed in the initial assessment.

A 22 year old female came with clinical picture of left sided ureteric colic. On investigation she was found to have a left sided ureteric stone and multiple bladder stones. Xray KUB confirmed the diagnosis (Figure 1a). She was admitted and was started on tamsulosin 0.4 mg daily while she was planned for intravenous urography. On day 2 of admission she passed 2 stones of size 13 mm and one stone of size 15 mm. Thereafter conservative treatment was continued and on day 5 she passed two stones of 15 mm and a stone of 22 mm (Figure 1b and 1c). X-ray KUB was repeated which showed no radio opaque shadow (Figure 1d). As per the guidelines of American Urology Association [1], patients with ureteral stones >10 mm could be observed or treated with MET, in most cases such stones will require surgical treatment. No recommendation can be made for spontaneous passage (with or without medical therapy) for patients with large stones. For stones more than 10 mm conservative management alone is insufficient [2]. Several studies have studied the effects of medical expulsive therapy but in stones not larger than 15 mm [3]. We are astonished by the results of conservative management in this case and want to know the view of your readers for the likely reason and whether to give medical therapy in all patients with larger stones before planning for any surgical intervention.

Özet:Akut apandisit, erken cerrahi müdahale ile tedavi edilen, düşük mortalite ve morbiditeye sahip, sık ğörülen cerrahi bir durumdur. Ancak, bazı hastalarda tanıda ğecikmelere ve artmış komplikasyonlara neden olan atipik semptomlar ve fıziksel bulgular bulunabilir. Atipik prezantasyon, apendiksin atipik yerleşimi ile ilgili olabilir. Sağ üst kadran ağrısı ile prezente olan asendan retroçekal apandisit, klinik olarak akut safra kesesi, karaciğer, safra yolları, sağ böbrek ve sağ üriner sistem yollarına ait akut patolojilerle karışabilir. Biz, ilk etapta klinik tanısı sağ üreter taşı olan akut sağ üst kadran ağrısı ile prezante olan retroçekal apandisit olğusunu sunuyoruz. Ultrason ve bilğisayarlı tomoğrafı incelemeleri sonrası, pararenal yerleşimli retroçekal apandisit ve retroperitonda inflamasyon tanısı konuldu. Cerrahi bulğular apandisitin varlığını ve retroperitoneal uzanımını doğruladı., Acute appendicitis is a common surgical condition that is usually managed with early surgery, and is associated with low morbidity and mortality. However, some patients may have atypical symptoms and physical findings that may lead to a delay in diagnosis and increased complications. Atypical presentation may be related to the position of the appendix. Ascending retrocecal appendicitis presenting with right upper abdominal pain may be clinically indistinguishable from acute pathologies in the gallbladder, liver, biliary tree, right kidney and right urinary tract. We here report a case of retrocecal appendicitis presented with acute right upper abdominal pain of which the clinical diagnosis at presentation was right ureteric colic. After the application of ultrasound and computed tomography examinations, pararenal located retrocecal appendicitis and inflammation in the retroperitoneum was diagnosed. Surgical findings confirmed the presence of appendicitis and its retroperitoneal extensions.

Non contrast helical computed tomography (CT) study of the abdomen is frequently performed in evaluation of suspected ureteric colic. We present CT images of a young adult male patient who had torsion of an undescended, non-neoplastic testis and describe the “Inguinoscrotal whirlpool sign on CT”.

A significant proportion of emergency urological admissions are comprised of ureteric colic presenting as loin pain. A variety of alternative pathologies present in this manner and should be considered during systematic assessment. We report the case of a patient admitted with severe unilateral back and flank pain after strenuous deadlift exercise. Clinical examination and subsequent investigation following a significant delay demonstrated acute paraspinal compartment syndrome (PCS) after an initial misdiagnosis of ureteric colic. The patient was managed conservatively. We review the current literature surrounding the rare diagnosis of PCS and discuss the management options.

Introduction: This retrospective study investigates the role of the emergency ureteroscopic (URS) approach in the definitive treatment of ureteric stones.Methods: We reviewed all patients admitted for ureteric stones from May 2003 to December 2010. Those who underwent URS stone treatment were selected and stratified into emergency (EMG) and elective groups (ELG). Emergency URS is defined as URS being performed within 24 hours of admission to the emergency room. The main indication for emergency treatment was refractory ureteric colic in spite of narcotic analgesia. Both groups were statistically compared in terms of their patient-, stone- and outcome-related variables. The overall success rate was defined by the clearance of the stone and/or presence of residual fragments (

Aim: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of noncontrast helical computerized tomography (CT) in ureteric colic with comparative evaluation of KUB and ultrasonography (USG). Setting: Tertiary care university hospital. Materials and Methods: One hundred patients aged between 20 and 75 years referred from the emergency department as acute ureteric colic were evaluated with KUB and USG followed by noncontrast helical CT. Results: Noncontrast helical CT was 91% sensitive and 98% specific in detecting urolithiasis compared to a sensitivity of 20% and 30% for KUB and USG and specificity of 94% and 98% respectively. Conclusion: Noncontrast helical CT is a very sensitive and specific investigation for evaluation of acute flank pain due to urolithiasis, besides helping in the detection of nonrenal causes of pain.

Most ureteral stones can be observed with reasonable expectation of uneventful stone passage. When an active ureteral stone treatment is warranted, the best procedure to choose is dependent on several factors, besides stone size and location, including operators' experience, patients' preference, available equipment and related costs. Placement of double-J stent or nephrostomy tube represents the classical procedures performed in a renal colic due to acute ureteral obstruction when the conservative drug therapy does not resolve the symptoms. These maneuvers are usually followed by ureteroscopy or extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy, which currently represent the mainstay of treatment for ureteral stones. In this review paper a literature search was performed to identify reports dealing with emergency management of renal colic due to ureteral stones. The main aspects related to this debated issue are analyzed and the advantages and disadvantages of each treatment option are carefully discussed.