Efficacy of Conservative Therapy versus Tamsulosin Added Therapy in Patients with Lower Ureteral Calculi and their Health Related Quality of Life

Background: Alpha-1 blockers reduce smooth muscle tension and alleviate spasms, thereby decreasing obstructions and relieving irritative symptoms in the lower urinary tract. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of Tamsulosin and its impact on health-related quality of life in patients with distal ureteral calculi. Methods: A total of 120 patients with distal ureteral calculi were enrolled in this study and randomly assigned into two groups. Group 1 (n=60) received conservative therapy, while Group 2 (n=60) received Tamsulosin (0.4 mg daily) in addition to conservative therapy. All patients were monitored for pain, intensity of ureteric colic, and spontaneous stone expulsion. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed for each patient using the RAND SF-36 Health Survey 1.0. Results: Spontaneous stone passage occurred in 52 patients (85%) in Group 1 and in all 60 patients (100%) in Group 2, with a statistically significant difference between the groups (P<0.001). Analysis by stone diameter further indicated significant differences favoring Tamsulosin treatment for stones ≤6 mm (P=0.04) and >6 mm (P=0.003). Health-related quality of life scores were significantly higher in the Tamsulosin group compared to the conservative therapy group. Conclusion: Tamsulosin, an alpha-1 blocker, is recommended for treating distal ureteral calculi, as it facilitates faster stone expulsion, increases expulsion rates, and enhances quality of life by reducing the frequency and severity of ureteric colic.