Vardenafil versus Tamsulosin as a Medical Expulsive Therapy for Distal Ureteral Stones

Abstract

Background:urolithiasis is one of the most common diseases of the urinary tract. The lifetime prevalence of urinary stones is around 1% to 15% and the peak age of incidence is at 30 years. Men are affected 2 to 3 times more often than women. Ureteral stones account for 20% of the calculi in urolithiasis and about 70% of ureteral stones are present in the distal third of the ureter at the time of presentation. Aim of the work: this study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of vardenafil (5mg twice daily) vs tamsulosin (0.4mg once daily) as a medical expulsive therapy in the management of distal ureteric stones (DUS) in terms of stone expulsion rate, stone expulsion time, number of pain episodes, analgesic use and side effects related to medical therapy. Patients and Methods: this was a prospective randomized comparative study conducted on 50 patients admitted through the outpatient Urology Clinic in Ain shams University Hospitals and Nasser Institute Hospital between February 2018 and August 2018. The patients were randomized using a closed envelope method. The patients were categorized into 2 main groups 25 patients each. Results: this study showed non significant stone expulsion rates and faster expulsion times in favor of vardenafil when compared to tamsulosin. Conclusion: both of the medications demonstrated a good safety and tolerability profile for medical expulsive therapy in patients with lower ureteric stones.