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Impact of emergency computed tomography on treatment and time to treatment for renal colic

Utter, Maria LU orcid ; Altmark, Fredrik ; Popiolek, Marcin ; Forsvall, Andreas LU orcid ; Lundström, Karl-Johan ; Thiel, Tomas and Wagenius, Magnus LU orcid (2025) In Scandinavian Journal of Urology 60. p.29-35
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the utilization and impact of emergency computed tomography (CT) on the management of renal colic, focusing on treatment decisions, time to treatment and the subsequent need for additional emergency department (ED) visits.

Materials and methods: Retrospective analysis of patient visits to the ED in Helsingborg with a diagnosis of urolithiasis (ICD codes N20-23) between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020.

Results: Out of 64,263 visits, 1.4% (880) visits were related to urolithiasis, involving 612 patients. Emergency CT (within 24 h) was performed in 43% of the cases, with an additional 9% undergoing CT at a subsequent emergency visit. Radiological confirmation of kidney or... (More)
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the utilization and impact of emergency computed tomography (CT) on the management of renal colic, focusing on treatment decisions, time to treatment and the subsequent need for additional emergency department (ED) visits.

Materials and methods: Retrospective analysis of patient visits to the ED in Helsingborg with a diagnosis of urolithiasis (ICD codes N20-23) between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020.

Results: Out of 64,263 visits, 1.4% (880) visits were related to urolithiasis, involving 612 patients. Emergency CT (within 24 h) was performed in 43% of the cases, with an additional 9% undergoing CT at a subsequent emergency visit. Radiological confirmation of kidney or ureteral stone was found in 324 patients, of which 63% (204) required no treatment. Comparison between patients who underwent emergency CT and those who did not, revealed a significantly shorter time to treatment and closure in the emergency CT group. The median time to treatment was 28 days for those with an emergency CT and 59 days for those without (P < 0.001), acute surgery excluded. The median time to closure was 31 days for emergency CT compared to 37 days without emergency CT (P < 0.010), acute surgery excluded.

Conclusion: In this study, the use of emergency CT shortened the time to treatment and rendered the patient stone free earlier compared to deferred diagnostics, with a note of caution that emergency CT may have led to increased surgical treatments for stones that might otherwise have passed spontaneously. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
ABSTRACT
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the utilization and impact of emergency computed
tomography (CT) on the management of renal colic, focusing on treatment decisions, time to treatment
and the subsequent need for additional emergency department (ED) visits.
Materials and methods: Retrospective analysis of patient visits to the ED in Helsingborg with a diagnosis
of urolithiasis (ICD codes N20-23) between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020.
Results: Out of 64,263 visits, 1.4% (880) visits were related to urolithiasis, involving 612 patients. Emergency
CT (within 24 h) was performed in 43% of the cases, with an additional 9% undergoing CT at a subsequent
emergency visit. Radiological... (More)
ABSTRACT
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the utilization and impact of emergency computed
tomography (CT) on the management of renal colic, focusing on treatment decisions, time to treatment
and the subsequent need for additional emergency department (ED) visits.
Materials and methods: Retrospective analysis of patient visits to the ED in Helsingborg with a diagnosis
of urolithiasis (ICD codes N20-23) between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020.
Results: Out of 64,263 visits, 1.4% (880) visits were related to urolithiasis, involving 612 patients. Emergency
CT (within 24 h) was performed in 43% of the cases, with an additional 9% undergoing CT at a subsequent
emergency visit. Radiological confirmation of kidney or ureteral stone was found in 324 patients, of which
63% (204) required no treatment. Comparison between patients who underwent emergency CT and those
who did not, revealed a significantly shorter time to treatment and closure in the emergency CT group. The
median time to treatment was 28 days for those with an emergency CT and 59 days for those without (P <
0.001), acute surgery excluded. The median time to closure was 31 days for emergency CT compared to 37
days without emergency CT (P < 0.010), acute surgery excluded.
Conclusion: In this study, the use of emergency CT shortened the time to treatment and rendered the
patient stone free earlier compared to deferred diagnostics, with a note of caution that emergency CT may
have led to increased surgical treatments for stones that might otherwise have passed spontaneously.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06535711 (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Scandinavian Journal of Urology
volume
60
pages
6 pages
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • pmid:39907293
  • scopus:85217850775
ISSN
2168-1813
DOI
10.2340/sju.v60.42593
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
9338f6bc-f496-403f-a23a-c653da781ccc
date added to LUP
2025-02-13 13:58:57
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:40:56
@article{9338f6bc-f496-403f-a23a-c653da781ccc,
  abstract     = {{Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the utilization and impact of emergency computed tomography (CT) on the management of renal colic, focusing on treatment decisions, time to treatment and the subsequent need for additional emergency department (ED) visits.<br/><br/>Materials and methods: Retrospective analysis of patient visits to the ED in Helsingborg with a diagnosis of urolithiasis (ICD codes N20-23) between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. <br/><br/>Results: Out of 64,263 visits, 1.4% (880) visits were related to urolithiasis, involving 612 patients. Emergency CT (within 24 h) was performed in 43% of the cases, with an additional 9% undergoing CT at a subsequent emergency visit. Radiological confirmation of kidney or ureteral stone was found in 324 patients, of which 63% (204) required no treatment. Comparison between patients who underwent emergency CT and those who did not, revealed a significantly shorter time to treatment and closure in the emergency CT group. The median time to treatment was 28 days for those with an emergency CT and 59 days for those without (P &lt; 0.001), acute surgery excluded. The median time to closure was 31 days for emergency CT compared to 37 days without emergency CT (P &lt; 0.010), acute surgery excluded.<br/><br/>Conclusion: In this study, the use of emergency CT shortened the time to treatment and rendered the patient stone free earlier compared to deferred diagnostics, with a note of caution that emergency CT may have led to increased surgical treatments for stones that might otherwise have passed spontaneously.}},
  author       = {{Utter, Maria and Altmark, Fredrik and Popiolek, Marcin and Forsvall, Andreas and Lundström, Karl-Johan and Thiel, Tomas and Wagenius, Magnus}},
  issn         = {{2168-1813}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{02}},
  pages        = {{29--35}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Urology}},
  title        = {{Impact of emergency computed tomography on treatment and time to treatment for renal colic}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.2340/sju.v60.42593}},
  doi          = {{10.2340/sju.v60.42593}},
  volume       = {{60}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}