Management Strategies for Renal Colic in Emergency Departments: A Cross-Sectional Study Conducted in Iran

Background: Approximately 1.2 million individuals suffer from renal colic every year, making up about 1% of total hospital admissions. This study aims to clarify the management strategies used in the Iranian emergency department for treating renal colic. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted between 2021 and 2022 using the Hospital Information System. Following the development of a diagnostic and treatment checklist for renal colic, a census survey was performed on the medical records of all patients diagnosed with renal colic. The data were analyzed using SPSS 22 software, employing both descriptive and analytical methods. Results: This study analyzed 150 medical records of patients with renal colitis. Most of these patients were young males, comprising 62% of the sample, with a mean age of 33 ± 5.55 years. The initial diagnostic approach frequently involved simultaneous evaluations using ultrasound and blood tests. Pain relief medications were administered to 64.5% of the patients, including narcotics for 48 individuals and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for 72 patients. Conclusion: The renal colic management protocols employed in Iran exhibit notable similarities to those established in other countries, particularly in the emerging trend of utilizing non-narcotic analgesics, favoring diagnostic ultrasonography over conventional radiographic methods, and consistently prescribing analgesic medications. This alignment underscores a global shift towards more conservative and practical approaches in renal colic treatment.