Jeremy Brown1. 1. Department of Emergency Medicine, George Washington University, Washington DC 20037, USA. jbrown@mfa.gwu.edu
Abstract
PURPOSE: To describe the epidemiology, imaging and treatment patterns of acute renal colic in US emergency departments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data on 25,622 visits representing 108 million emergency department visits were obtained from the 2000 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. Demographic and clinical information are presented descriptively. RESULTS: There were a total of 259 records representing 1,139,257 visits with a primary ED diagnosis of renal calculus or colic. The majority of patients are young males, presenting with moderate to severe flank pain. Patients received an average of two medications from a pharmacopoeia of several dozen. The most commonly used medications were ketorolac, promthiazine and morphine. Antibiotics were prescribed in over 20% of cases. Just under half of all patients had a radiographic test, and a similar number had one or more blood tests. Fewer than 10% were admitted. CONCLUSIONS: Renal colic is a common emergency department presentation and but there is widespread variation in the type of ancillary testing obtained. Patients may not obtain those radiological tests required to ensure prompt urological follow-up. Further work should be aimed at developing protocols for the emergent management of patients with renal colic.
PURPOSE: To describe the epidemiology, imaging and treatment patterns of acute renal colic in US emergency departments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data on 25,622 visits representing 108 million emergency department visits were obtained from the 2000 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. Demographic and clinical information are presented descriptively. RESULTS: There were a total of 259 records representing 1,139,257 visits with a primary ED diagnosis of renal calculus or colic. The majority of patients are young males, presenting with moderate to severe flank pain. Patients received an average of two medications from a pharmacopoeia of several dozen. The most commonly used medications were ketorolac, promthiazine and morphine. Antibiotics were prescribed in over 20% of cases. Just under half of all patients had a radiographic test, and a similar number had one or more blood tests. Fewer than 10% were admitted. CONCLUSIONS:Renal colic is a common emergency department presentation and but there is widespread variation in the type of ancillary testing obtained. Patients may not obtain those radiological tests required to ensure prompt urological follow-up. Further work should be aimed at developing protocols for the emergent management of patients with renal colic.
Authors: W H Cordell; S W Wright; A B Wolfson; B L Timerding; T J Maneatis; R H Lewis; L Bynum; D R Nelson Journal: Ann Emerg Med Date: 1996-08 Impact factor: 5.721
Authors: Charles D Scales; Jonathan Bergman; Stacey Carter; Gregory Jack; Christopher S Saigal; Mark S Litwin Journal: Urology Date: 2015-09-01 Impact factor: 2.649
Authors: Francisco R Spivacow; Armando L Negri; Elisa E del Valle; Irene Calviño; José R Zanchetta Journal: Int Urol Nephrol Date: 2009-08-04 Impact factor: 2.370