The efficacy of preoperative tamsulosin on ureteral dilatation during ureteroscopy

Aims and objectives: To estimate the effic acy of preoperative tamsulosin in ureteral dilatation during ureteroscopy compared with placebo confirmed by imaging in adult patients. Patients and methods: The study was conducted in the period between November 2017 and November 2018 at Assiut Urology and Nephrology Hospital. A total number of 50 patients diagnosed as having distal ureteric stone of large size ( 1 cm in length) were included in this study. They were divided into two groups (I and II), with 25 patients in each group. Group I received a tablet of tamsulosin 0.4 mg/day, and group II received placebo. Patients were followed up for 8 weeks. Results: A total of 50 patients were enrolled. Group I (25 patients) consisted of 17 men and eight women, and group II (25 patients) consisted of 18 men and seven women. The mean age group in tamsulosin group I was 35.5 years, whereas the placebo group II had a mean age of 36.5 years (P=0.950). The mean stone size was 10.5 mm (10, 12 mm) for group I and 10.5 mm (10, 13 mm) for group II. All patients underwent ureteroscopy. Active instrumental ureteral dilatation was always needed in the control group versus 20 (80%) cases of the tamsulosin group (P=0.017). Such difference did not significantly affect the rate of stentless ureteroscopy, which was eight (32%) versus five (20%) cases for tamsulosin and control groups, respectively (P=0.237). Conclusion: Preoperative tamsulosin seems to be a good aid for ureteral dilatation during ureteroscopy with no effect on the need for ureteral stents. Further studies are needed to confirm the results on a bigger sample size and to outline the time frame during which the drug will give maximum effect.