OBJECTIVES: Over 1 million emergency room visits are made annually for renal colic and urinary stone disease in the United States. This study seeks to determine patterns of follow-up for patients diagnosed with ureterolithiasis in a single emergency department. METHODS: A retrospective review identified 556 patients diagnosed with ureterolithiasis in the emergency department at the University of Wisconsin Hospital over a 2-year period. RESULTS: Of these patients, 130 met inclusion criteria including first-time stone formers and no prior urological visit within the past 5 years. Fourteen patients seen in the emergency room at their initial visit received immediate urological consultation. Of the remaining 116 patients discharged by the emergency room, 71 (61%) patients followed up with a urologist, 27 (23%) patients followed up with a primary care physician, 10 (9%) patients returned to the emergency department for their initial follow-up, and 8 (7%) patients had no further follow-up. Of the 44 patients with ureteral calculi 5 mm or greater, 38 (86%) patients either received urological consultation in the emergency department or followed up with a urologist as an outpatient (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that most patients seen in the emergency department at our institution for ureterolithiasis with > 4 mm ureteral stones follow up with a urologist on an outpatient basis. Alternatively, based on the overall subset of patients identified, it is conceivable that a significant percentage of patients never see a urologist.
OBJECTIVES: Over 1 million emergency room visits are made annually for renal colic and urinary stone disease in the United States. This study seeks to determine patterns of follow-up for patients diagnosed with ureterolithiasis in a single emergency department. METHODS: A retrospective review identified 556 patients diagnosed with ureterolithiasis in the emergency department at the University of Wisconsin Hospital over a 2-year period. RESULTS: Of these patients, 130 met inclusion criteria including first-time stone formers and no prior urological visit within the past 5 years. Fourteen patients seen in the emergency room at their initial visit received immediate urological consultation. Of the remaining 116 patients discharged by the emergency room, 71 (61%) patients followed up with a urologist, 27 (23%) patients followed up with a primary care physician, 10 (9%) patients returned to the emergency department for their initial follow-up, and 8 (7%) patients had no further follow-up. Of the 44 patients with ureteral calculi 5 mm or greater, 38 (86%) patients either received urological consultation in the emergency department or followed up with a urologist as an outpatient (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that most patients seen in the emergency department at our institution for ureterolithiasis with > 4 mm ureteral stones follow up with a urologist on an outpatient basis. Alternatively, based on the overall subset of patients identified, it is conceivable that a significant percentage of patients never see a urologist.
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: Amy N Luckenbaugh; Phyllis L Yan; Casey A Dauw; Khurshid R Ghani; Brent K Hollenbeck; John M Hollingsworth Journal: Urol Pract Date: 2018-12-27