Renal calculus disease and obstructive uropathy
Renal colic and its imaging, the obstructed infected kidney, which ureteric stones pass and when to refer, metabolic work-up by stone type, prevention after NOSTONE, and non-stone obstruction such as retroperitoneal fibrosis.
Tier 2Condition
Written with AI assistance and fact-checked against the sources below. For exam study, not clinical decisions. How notes are made
At a glance
- Up to about 10% of people have a kidney stone in their lifetime, men more than women, and about half recur within 10 years.
- Renal colic is diagnosed on non-contrast CT KUB (low dose if BMI allows). Ultrasound first in pregnancy and young people.
- Obstruction plus infection is an emergency: drain the kidney (nephrostomy or stent) with IV antibiotics.
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Sources
- Therapeutic Guidelines: Kidney and UrinaryAU/NZTherapeutic Guidelines Ltd, 2026
- EAU Guidelines on UrolithiasisEuropean Association of Urology, 2026 (limited text update, March 2026; next full revision 2028)
- Dhayat NA et al. Hydrochlorothiazide and prevention of kidney-stone recurrence (NOSTONE). N Engl J Med 2023;388:781-91New England Journal of Medicine, 2023
- Pickard R et al. Medical expulsive therapy in adults with ureteric colic: a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial (SUSPEND). Lancet 2015;386:341-9The Lancet, 2015
- Meltzer AC et al. Effect of tamsulosin on passage of symptomatic ureteral stones (STONE). JAMA Intern Med 2018;178:1051-7JAMA Internal Medicine, 2018
- Hollingsworth JM et al. Alpha blockers for treatment of ureteric stones: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2016;355:i6112BMJ, 2016
- Acute kidney injury: prevention, detection and management (NICE guideline NG148)National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2019
- Last updated
- 14 November 2026
What changed
- 14 November 2026 Personal emails, About story and Australian-style copy