Login to Access Video or Poster Abstract: MP50-20
Sources of Funding: none

Introduction

To evaluate whether alpha blockers facilitate the negotiation of the ureteroscope through the ureteric orifice, if administered preoperatively, based on the role of alpha blockers mainly tamsulosin in MET of ureteric calculus.

Methods

A prospective, randomized study of 174 patients who underwent ureteroscopic stone removal for lower or mid ureteric calculi between November 2014 and March 2016. We included patients above the age of 14 years who were planned for ureteroscopic stone removal. We divided the patients into two groups, as those who were not prescribed alpha blockers prior to surgery (Group A – No alpha blocker; NAB) and group B including those patients who were started on alpha blockers tamsulosin 0.4 mg 3 days prior to surgery (Group-B - Alpha blocker; AB). We excluded patients with stone size > 1 cm, spontaneous stone passage prior to surgery, unable to perform URS and previous history of ureteroscopic intervention.

Results

Our study included 124 patients, among them 60 patients were prescribed alpha blockers preoperatively (group B). Mean age of the study population was 37.62 + 9.74 (15-64 years). Mean stone burden was 38.92 + 8.21 (15.94 - 58.12 mm2). The difference in rate of ureteroscope negotiation through ureteric orifice between NAB and AB group was not statistically significant (p=0.57).

Conclusions

In URS, preoperative administration of alpha blockers failed to demonstrate the benefits of technical ease and lower complication rate. Further large group, multi-centric studies required to reach up a definitive role of alpha blockers prior to URS.

Funding

none