Urolithiasis Pearls

- Presence or absence of hematuria alone cannot be used to diagnose or exclude nephrolithiasis

- Most stones ≤5 mm (70–98%) will pass spontaneously. Stones >5 mm have smaller chance (25–51%) of spontaneous passage & are more likely to need urologic intervention. (J Urol. 2015;194:1009)

- Send pts home w/ strainer, esp 1st-time stone formers for stone analysis

- Cx: Obstructed infected kidney (urologic emergency requiring urgent decompression), renal insufficiency, failed expulsion

Excerpt From

Pocket Notebook: Pocket Emergency Medicine, 4e

Erica Ashley Morse, MD

#em