The Practice of Approaching the Clinic of Renal Colic in Pregnant Patients Admitted to the Emergency Department: 5-Years Retrospective Observational Study

Objective: Renal colic in pregnant women; it is a difficult situation to manage in the emergency department. This study aims to examine the emergency service evaluation and approach to kidney stone cases in pregnant women.
Material and Methods: Pregnant patients who applied to our hospital between 2016-2022 were included in this study. The diagnoses of the patients were made by ultrasonography (USG) and other imaging methods. Demographic data, complaints, laboratory results, and treatment methods of the patients were recorded and analyzed.
Results: Fifty-two pregnant patients presenting with renal colic were included in the study. Patients’ presenting symptoms: 46 (88.5%) flank pain, 9 (17.3%) pyuria, 7 (13.5%) nausea and vomiting, 6 (11.5%) macroscopic hematuria, 2 (3.8%) microscopic hematuria. In 49 (94.2%) patients, the diagnosis was made by USG. The diagnosis was made by magnetic resonance imaging in 2 (3.8%) patients and by computed tomography in 1 (1.9%) patient. Conservative treatment was applied to 50 (96.2%) patients; endoscopic surgical treatment, to 2 (3.8%) patients.
Conclusion: Renal colic accompanying pregnant patients admitted to the emergency department it is an important problem that should be evaluated with a multidisciplinary approach due to limitations in diagnosis and treatment steps, and potential complications that may affect maternal and fetal health. USG is a valuable method for detecting complications that may cause loss of kidney function in these patients. These patients are managed in emergency departments. When they are referred to the urology clinic, they are treated conservatively. In cases where conservative treatment fails, patients can be treated effectively and safely with endourological interventions.

Keywords: Pregnancy, renal colic, emergency, ultrasonography