Tamsulosin as a Medical Expulsive Therapy for Ureteral Stones: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract

Purpose: Tamsulosin is widely administered as a medical expulsive therapy to facilitate stone passage in patients with ureteral calculi. Recently several large, multicenter, randomized controlled trials revealed conflicting results, which led to considerable uncertainty about the efficacy of tamsulosin in the management of ureteral stones. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tamsulosin in the management of ureteral stones. Materials and Methods: We searched MEDLINE®, Embase®, Web of Knowledge, Google Scholar™ and the Cochrane Central Search Library databases up to June 2018. Two reviewers independently evaluated eligible randomized controlled trials of the efficacy of tamsulosin to treat ureteral stones. Study quality was assessed with the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) system. Subgroup analyses were performed to explore heterogeneity. Results: Included in study were 56 randomized controlled trials in a total of 9,395 patients. The observed treatment effect indicated that tamsulosin was associated with a higher stone expulsion rate (RR 1.44, 95% CI 1.35-1.55, p <0.01), a shorter stone expulsion time (weighted mean difference –0.73, 95% CI –1.00-–0.45, p <0.01), a lesser incidence of ureteral colic (weighted mean difference –0.81, 95% CI –1.24-–0.39, p <0.01) and fewer incidences of requiring subsequent intervention (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.50-0.93, p = 0.017). Treatment with tamsulosin did not differ from a control group in the overall incidence of side effects (RR 1.14, 95% CI 0.86-1.51, p = 0.36). On subgroup analysis we observed a significant benefit in the stone expulsion rate for tamsulosin among patients with stones greater than 5 mm (RR 1.44, 95% CI 1.22-1.68, p <0.01) but no effect for stones 5 mm or less (RR 1.08, 95% CI 0.99-1.68, p <0.01). Conclusions: Our current meta-analysis results indicate that tamsulosin is effective and relatively safe in patients with ureteral stone as a medical expulsive therapy to facilitate stone passage. It is suggested to administer it selectively in patients with 5 to 10 mm ureteral stones.