The Emergency Management of Renal and Ureteric Colic

Renal or ureteric colic is often the presumed diagnosis given to many patients presenting with acute loin and/or groin pain. Patients frequently undergo a multitude of investigations before a diagnosis is established. This often leads to a delay in appropriate management. We assessed the emergency management of patients with suspected renal and/or ureteric colic referred to our department. All referrals over a three-month period were included in the study. We found the majority of referrals with suspected urinary tract stones do in fact have an alternative diagnosis. CT was the most sensitive method for establishing diagnosis in patients with acute loin and/or groin pain. We recommend that patients with suspected renal or ureteric colic should undergo CT on admission to confirm the diagnosis and ensure suitable management.