
SGEM#154 - May 12th, 2016 - By Seupaul T and Phan M

"Clinical Question: Does medical expulsive therapy with tamsulosin or nifedipine increase the likelihood of spontaneous stone passage measured by the absence of need for further intervention?
- No statistical difference in spontaneous stone passage at four weeks.
Clinical Question: What is the efficacy and safety of tamsulosin in patients with stones less than or equal to 10mm in the distal ureter?
- No significant difference in stone passage or time to stone passage.
SGEM Bottom Line: Expulsive therapy is unnecessary for ureteric stones < 5mm. There is some weak evidence that tamsulosin may help passage of larger stones (5 to 10 mm)."