BERKELEY, CA (UroToday.com) - This prospective randomized study of 75 ureteral stent patients utilized Tamsulosin (0.4mg daily) in 38 patients (group 1) and no alpha blocker in 37 patients (group 2).

All patients received a quinolone antibiotic and used oral analgesics as needed. Quality of life (QoL) questionnaires were administered at one week post-stent placement, at two weeks post-stent placement, when the stent was removed and at the third and fourth week post-stent placement. A visual analog health scale was administered at four weeks post-stent placement. The alpha-blocker was continued until the third week following the stent placement procedure.

There were significantly more stent-related symptoms (flank pain, dysuria, frequency and bladder discomfort) in the no alpha blocker group compared to the Tamsulosin-treated group at week one (p=0.002). In addition, QoL questions were significantly better in the Tamsulosin-treated group (p=0.006).

Several abstracts at the recent American Urologic Association meeting have also shown, in prospective randomized studies of alpha-blocker compared to placebo, that the alpha-blocker significantly reduces troublesome symptoms related to indwelling stents. The alpha-blockers would also appear to be clinically more effective than anticholinergics alone. However, data comparing alpha-blocker alone, anticholinergics alone and combined alpha-blocker and anticholinergics is still lacking from the literature.

Damiano R, Autorino R, De Sio M, Giacobbe A, Palumbo IM, D'Armiento M

J Endourol. 2008 Apr;22(4):651-6
doi: 10.1089/end.2007.0257

PubMed Abstract
PMID: 18338955

UroToday.com Urinary Incontinence (UI) Section

Written by Elspeth M. McDougall, MD, a Contributing Editor with UroToday.

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