Renal colic, where is it headed? An observational study.

Aim: In the last thirty years, the treatment for renal and ureteral calculi has undergone profound variations. The objective of this study has been to evaluate the existence of parameters which can affect the spontaneous expulsion of a symptomatic ureteral stone in a reasonably brief period of time and to identify whether certain parameters such as sex, age, the location and dimension of the stone, the presence of dilation in the urinary tract together with the administered therapy, can be used for a correct clinical management of the patient.

Methods: In a period of 9 months, 486 cases of renal colic were registered at emergency department.

Results: The cases of renal colic due to ureteral calculus were 188 (38.7%). The patients' charts, complete of all data and therefore, valid for this research, resulted to be 120 (64%). In the presence of a symptomatic ureteral stone, the correct approach must first of all, focalize on the dimension of the calculus itself; less importance instead, is given to the location, as reported in other studies, the presence of hydroureteronephrosis, sex and the side.

Conclusion: In the cases when the pain symptoms cannot be solved by means of the administration of analgesics, it is then reasonable to take into consideration an immediate endourological treatment. If the pain symptoms are promptly solved, an attentive wait of 4 weeks should be considered reasonable in order to allow spontaneous expulsion of the calculus.