Background:

Double-J catheters are tools that are widely used in urology but given that they are a foreign body in the urinary tract, 30% of patients present with adverse effects after their placement. Such symptoms are attributed to local irritation caused by the spiral of the catheter in the bladder or when found in the renal calyx. Numerous studies have shown that tamsulosin and certain anticholinergics reduce ureteral catheter-related symptoms.

Material and methods:

A prospective, observational, randomized, comparative study was conducted. Consecutive cases were randomly distributed into the study groups (1 to 1). The patients underwent endourologic treatment with semirigid and/or flexible ureteroscopy, as well as pneumatic and/or laser lithotripsy. A total of 77 patients were divided into 2 groups: the 39 patients in group 1 received 0.4 mg of oral tamsulosin every 24 hours for one month after surgery and the 38 patients in group 2 received 20 mg of oral hyoscine butylbromide every 8 hours for one month after surgery. Patient evaluation took place at the urology service consultation office and the validated Ureteric Stent Symptom Questionnaire (USSQ) was applied at weeks 1, 2, and 4 after double-J catheter placement.

Results:

Both treatments reduced the irritative symptoms and pain, from the second week, and there was statistical significance at week 4, with respect to the baseline data obtained at week 1 (p<0.05). There was also quality of life improvement, with a decrease of more than 4.3 points in the validated questionnaire, at week 4 (p<0.05). Upon comparing the two treatment groups, there was no significant difference regarding improvement of the irritative symptoms, pain, or in quality of life after 4 weeks of treatment.

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