Changes in Ureteral Stone Treatment During COVID-19: A Single-Center Emergency Department Study

Adrian Militaru,1,2 Catalin Andrei Bulai,1,2 Cosmin Victor Ene,1,2 Razvan Ionut Popescu,1,3 Cristian Mares,1,2 Stefan Marian Balacescu,1,2 Razvan Dragos Multescu,1,2 Dragos Adrian Georgescu,1,2 Petrisor Aurelian Geavlete,1,2 Bogdan Florin Geavlete1,2 1Department of Urology, “Carol Davila” University...

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Main Authors: Militaru A, Bulai CA, Ene CV, Popescu RI, Mares C, Balacescu SM, Multescu RD, Georgescu DA, Geavlete PA, Geavlete BF
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2025-04-01
Series:Research and Reports in Urology
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Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/changes-in-ureteral-stone-treatment-during-covid-19-a-single-center-em-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-RRU
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author Militaru A
Bulai CA
Ene CV
Popescu RI
Mares C
Balacescu SM
Multescu RD
Georgescu DA
Geavlete PA
Geavlete BF
author_facet Militaru A
Bulai CA
Ene CV
Popescu RI
Mares C
Balacescu SM
Multescu RD
Georgescu DA
Geavlete PA
Geavlete BF
author_sort Militaru A
collection DOAJ
description Adrian Militaru,1,2 Catalin Andrei Bulai,1,2 Cosmin Victor Ene,1,2 Razvan Ionut Popescu,1,3 Cristian Mares,1,2 Stefan Marian Balacescu,1,2 Razvan Dragos Multescu,1,2 Dragos Adrian Georgescu,1,2 Petrisor Aurelian Geavlete,1,2 Bogdan Florin Geavlete1,2 1Department of Urology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania; 2Department of Urology, “Saint John” Clinical Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania; 3Department of Urology, “Prof. Dr. Th. Burghele” Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, RomaniaCorrespondence: Catalin Andrei Bulai, Department of Urology, “Saint John” Clinical Emergency Hospital, 13 Vitan-Barzesti str, Bucharest, 042122, Romania, Tel +40749184205, Email catalin.bulai@umfcd.roPurpose: We evaluated the hospitalization rate, length of stay, and management of patients with ureteric lithiasis admitted under emergency conditions at a single institution during the COVID-19 pandemic.Patients and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 219 patients with ureteral lithiasis, divided into pre-COVID-19 (1.10.2019– 29.02.2020) and COVID-19 groups (1.10.2020– 29.02.2021). The study examined patient and stone characteristics, hospitalization duration, surgical interventions, creatinine levels, and associated urinary tract infections. It also evaluated the complications related to delayed treatment during the pandemic.Results: The study found a 73.41% reduction in admissions for obstructive ureteral lithiasis during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period. Notable differences were observed in age (61.5 vs 46 years, p=0.000), gender (p=0.046), stone laterality (p=0.024), location (p=0.002), serum creatinine levels (1.59 vs 1.09 mg/dL, p=0.000), and urine cultures (45.65% vs 23.12%, p=0.002). During the pandemic period, the rate of primary stone extraction procedures decreased (32.6% vs 59%, p< 0.001), while operative time (52.89 vs 39.84 minutes, p< 0.001) and hospital stay significantly increased (13.09 vs 3.76 days, p< 0.001).Conclusion: The pandemic resulted in fewer hospitalizations for ureteral lithiasis and an increase in complications, likely due to reduced access to medical care and a greater tendency for upper urinary tract drainage.Keywords: COVID-19, urolithiasis, ureteroscopy, double J stent, ureteral stone, percutaneous nephrostomy
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spelling doaj-art-d39f9f39ba464198a15cfcb46d37dbd62025-08-20T02:20:25ZengDove Medical PressResearch and Reports in Urology2253-24472025-04-01Volume 17129138102373Changes in Ureteral Stone Treatment During COVID-19: A Single-Center Emergency Department StudyMilitaru ABulai CAEne CVPopescu RIMares CBalacescu SMMultescu RDGeorgescu DAGeavlete PAGeavlete BFAdrian Militaru,1,2 Catalin Andrei Bulai,1,2 Cosmin Victor Ene,1,2 Razvan Ionut Popescu,1,3 Cristian Mares,1,2 Stefan Marian Balacescu,1,2 Razvan Dragos Multescu,1,2 Dragos Adrian Georgescu,1,2 Petrisor Aurelian Geavlete,1,2 Bogdan Florin Geavlete1,2 1Department of Urology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania; 2Department of Urology, “Saint John” Clinical Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania; 3Department of Urology, “Prof. Dr. Th. Burghele” Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, RomaniaCorrespondence: Catalin Andrei Bulai, Department of Urology, “Saint John” Clinical Emergency Hospital, 13 Vitan-Barzesti str, Bucharest, 042122, Romania, Tel +40749184205, Email catalin.bulai@umfcd.roPurpose: We evaluated the hospitalization rate, length of stay, and management of patients with ureteric lithiasis admitted under emergency conditions at a single institution during the COVID-19 pandemic.Patients and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 219 patients with ureteral lithiasis, divided into pre-COVID-19 (1.10.2019– 29.02.2020) and COVID-19 groups (1.10.2020– 29.02.2021). The study examined patient and stone characteristics, hospitalization duration, surgical interventions, creatinine levels, and associated urinary tract infections. It also evaluated the complications related to delayed treatment during the pandemic.Results: The study found a 73.41% reduction in admissions for obstructive ureteral lithiasis during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period. Notable differences were observed in age (61.5 vs 46 years, p=0.000), gender (p=0.046), stone laterality (p=0.024), location (p=0.002), serum creatinine levels (1.59 vs 1.09 mg/dL, p=0.000), and urine cultures (45.65% vs 23.12%, p=0.002). During the pandemic period, the rate of primary stone extraction procedures decreased (32.6% vs 59%, p< 0.001), while operative time (52.89 vs 39.84 minutes, p< 0.001) and hospital stay significantly increased (13.09 vs 3.76 days, p< 0.001).Conclusion: The pandemic resulted in fewer hospitalizations for ureteral lithiasis and an increase in complications, likely due to reduced access to medical care and a greater tendency for upper urinary tract drainage.Keywords: COVID-19, urolithiasis, ureteroscopy, double J stent, ureteral stone, percutaneous nephrostomyhttps://www.dovepress.com/changes-in-ureteral-stone-treatment-during-covid-19-a-single-center-em-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-RRUcovid-19urolithiasisureteroscopydouble j stentureteral stonepercutaneous nephrostomy
spellingShingle Militaru A
Bulai CA
Ene CV
Popescu RI
Mares C
Balacescu SM
Multescu RD
Georgescu DA
Geavlete PA
Geavlete BF
Changes in Ureteral Stone Treatment During COVID-19: A Single-Center Emergency Department Study
Research and Reports in Urology
covid-19
urolithiasis
ureteroscopy
double j stent
ureteral stone
percutaneous nephrostomy
title Changes in Ureteral Stone Treatment During COVID-19: A Single-Center Emergency Department Study
title_full Changes in Ureteral Stone Treatment During COVID-19: A Single-Center Emergency Department Study
title_fullStr Changes in Ureteral Stone Treatment During COVID-19: A Single-Center Emergency Department Study
title_full_unstemmed Changes in Ureteral Stone Treatment During COVID-19: A Single-Center Emergency Department Study
title_short Changes in Ureteral Stone Treatment During COVID-19: A Single-Center Emergency Department Study
title_sort changes in ureteral stone treatment during covid 19 a single center emergency department study
topic covid-19
urolithiasis
ureteroscopy
double j stent
ureteral stone
percutaneous nephrostomy
url https://www.dovepress.com/changes-in-ureteral-stone-treatment-during-covid-19-a-single-center-em-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-RRU
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