Stenting prior to URS or ESWL – does it increase ED visits and opiate prescriptions?

Ureteral stents are used to bypass obstructive stones, to dilate the ureter in order to facilitate ureteroscopy (URS), and to maintain patency / low intrarenal pressure following stone surgery. However, there can be morbidity (pain / voiding symptoms). Tasian et...

Risk stratified approach to early intervention for renal colic

Existing guidance on this topic is based on older and smaller studies, and there remains variation in practice. This review of database outcomes of 1168 out of 3081 (38%) patients who underwent early intervention after presentation to nine Canadian emergency...

ESWL and URS for treatment of paediatric urolithiasis

Tejwani et al. have undertaken a comparative effectiveness study to characterise differences in procedure frequency, postoperative re-admissions and emergency room (ER) visits, and repeat treatment rates for children (≤18 years) with urolithiasis who underwent initial intervention with extracorporeal shock wave...

Role of emergency ureteroscopy in the management of ureteric stones

Emergency ureteroscopy for all acute stone patients is not widespread in the UK but this is not the case elsewhere. In Auckland, New Zealand, it is commonly carried out in the emergency setting to reduce pressure on elective lists and...

Efficacy of flexible ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy for lower pole renal calculi

The management of lower pole renal stones (LPS) is often difficult. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), flexible ureterorenoscopy (fURS) and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) are all potential options with potential benefits and disadvantages. In order to assess the success of fURS...