Medical and medical/urologic approaches in acute and chronic urologic stone disease.

Urinary stone disease is a condition with far-reaching implications. Patients with their initial instance of acute renal colic enter the health care system through 2 routes. Severe cases are generally seen in the emergency room, whereas more tolerable cases may be seen by primary care physicians. Patients with urinary stone disease are then managed in the long-term by a urologist. Timely and appropriate treatment of patients with urinary stone disease is essential to prevent the development of sepsis and progressive renal insufficiency. This article reviews the epidemiology, pathogenesis, presentation, and short- and long-term management of acute and chronic urinary stone disease.