Intracutaneous Sterile Water and Diclofenac Sodium Injections in Renal Colic

Overview

Renal colic is a serious and excruciatingly painful condition that frequently presents itself in the emergency department. In this trial, patients with renal colic who have received intramuscular diclofenac sodium injection or intracutaneous sterile water injection will have their Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) measured and compared.

Renal colic affects over 12% of the global population at some point in their lives, and recurrence rates are 50%. Renal colic affects approximately 1.2 million people annually and is the reason for 1% of emergency department visits and hospital stays. Urinary tract obstruction caused by calculi is the most common cause of renal colic occurrence. The sudden onset of colicky pain that begins in the flank and radiates to the groin is the classic clinical feature of a ureteric colic. Most people agree that this pain is the worst that humans have ever felt. Renal colic pain can be effectively managed with a variety of pharmacologic treatments, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioid analgesics, antispasmodics, and antidiuretic hormones. However, the best analgesic regimen has not yet been identified. In patients with renal colic, intravenous (IV) injections of analgesics-either opioids or NSAIDs-remain standard clinical procedures for managing pain. While there have been reports of success with IV administration of these medications, side effects and availability are typically problematic, particularly in private clinics or with opioid abuse. Furthermore, because NSAIDs may reduce renal blood flow and obstruct the kidney's autoregulatory response to obstruction, preexisting renal disease may exacerbate renal failure. The majority of doctors are also uncomfortable using these medications because of their side effects, which include hypotension, respiratory depression, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, narcotic dependence, sedation, and lightheadedness. Therefore, it would appear that using alternate treatments to manage renal colic pain is inevitable. In this trial, the investigators will compare the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) in patients with renal colic after being managed with intracutaneous sterile water injection and intramuscular diclofenac sodium injection.

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Eligibility

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Central Contacts