Login to Access Video or Poster Abstract: MP01-05
Sources of Funding: none

Introduction

Follow-up imaging is recommended as follow up for patients who present to the emergency department with ureteral stones and colic, but it often omitted if patients report cessation of pain. The purpose of this study was to update a previous report of how often a patient’s ureteral colic will cease despite still having a stone obstructing the ureter.

Methods

Fifty-three patients evaluated in an emergency department for ureteral colic and diagnosed with an obstructing ureteral stone who subsequently had follow-up in the urology clinic were retrospective evaluated. Patients who described the cessation of pain 72 hours prior to their office visit and who had follow up imaging were included in the study.

Results

Fifty-three (53) patients were included in the study. Mean patient age was 49.7 years (SD 15.3), gender distribution was 36% female:64% male, and mean time between visits was 27.4 days (SD 37.5). All patients (100%) reported having no pain for at least 72 hours prior to follow-up appointment, while 12/53 patients (22.6%) still demonstrated an obstructing ureteral stone on follow up imaging. Mean stone axial diameter was not different for patients who had passed their stones versus those who had not (4.9 mm versus 5 mm, p=NS).

Conclusions

In this study of 53 patients,?22%?of patients with ureteral stones?whose?pain completely ceased still had obstructing stones lodged in the ureter?on follow up imaging. ?This demonstrates that in the short term, one cannot confidently assume that cessation of pain signifies stone passage.

Funding

none