Several well-designed, prospective randomized controlled trials (RTC) provide level 1 evidence support for this clinical practice. All researchers confirmed the safety of tamsulosin, reduction in required narcotic analgesia and improved spontaneous passage of these distal ureteral stones with better stone free rates and quicker stone expulsion compared to the control groups in which a placebo was used. In the study of patients with indwelling stents following endourologic procedures, tamsulosin 0.4 mg daily for 4 weeks also significantly reduced irritative and obstructive bladder symptoms compared to the control group. Using 8 domains of the SF-36 questionnaire they also found that the patients receiving tamsulosin had a significantly improved quality of life compared to the control patients. So while tamsulosin does not eliminate all the bothersome symptoms associated with indwelling stents, it can significantly improve the patient’s comfort - which may be of real importance in the short-term management of these patients following endourologic procedures.
Also: Efficacy of Tamsulosin 0.4 Mg in Relieving of Double-J Stent-Related Symptoms : A Randomized Controlled Study by Niti Navanimitkul
Presented by Milad A Hanna at the 29th World Congress of Endourology & SWL (WCE) - November 30 - December 3, 2011 - Kyoto International Conference Center - Kyoto, Japan
Reported for UroToday by Elspeth M. McDougall, M.D., FRCSC, MHPE, Professor of Urology, Department of Urology, University of California-Irvine Medical Center, Irvine, CA
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