TY - JOUR T1 - α-channel and calcium-channel blockers are ineffective as medical expulsive therapy for ureteral stones regardless of size and location JF - Evidence Based Medicine JO - Evid Based Med SP - 171 LP - 171 DO - 10.1136/ebmed-2015-110244 VL - 20 IS - 5 AU - Andrew Worster Y1 - 2015/10/01 UR - http://ebm.bmj.com/content/20/5/171.abstract N2 - Commentary on: Pickard R, Starr K, MacLennan G, et al. Medical expulsive therapy in adults with ureteric colic: a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet 2015;386:341–9.OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedUreteral stones are a common painful condition often requiring medical care, although treatment is usually symptomatic as most stones pass within 6 weeks.1 ,2 Failed expectant management, obstruction and infection are the most common reasons for intervention. Therapies that facilitate stone passage will thereby reduce the symptom duration, need for intervention and probability of complications. Ureteric smooth muscle relaxants have been studied as potential medical expulsive therapies (MET) and the most recent systematic review advocates their use. However, the high risks of selection, allocation and ascertainment bias in the included trials and the inexplicit and subjective primary outcome resulted in high heterogeneity.3 This … ER -