Emergency physicians report infrequent use of α-blockade for the treatment of ureteral stones

Abstract

Purposes We sought to determine how frequently tamsulosin is used by emergency physicians (EPs) for the treatment of patients with ureteral stones, and examine factors influencing its use. Basic Procedures We distributed online and paper surveys to 240 EPs in five states in the United States. Surveys asked the length of time in practice, the type of hospital setting, and the self-reported frequency of tamsulosin use by quartile. Findings A total of 103 EPs (43%) responded to the survey. The majority (60%, 95% CI 51% to 69%) reported the use of tamsulosin in fewer than 25% of patients presenting with ureteral stones, and many (27%, 95% CI 20% to 36%) had not heard of the use of tamsulosin for urinary-stone passage. Practice in a county hospital was associated with infrequent tamsulosin use ( p=.02). Conclusions Despite evidence that alpha-blockade may be beneficial to patients presenting to the emergency department with ureteral stones, this approach is still used inconsistently by EPs.