TY - JOUR TI - The Efficacy of Medical Expulsive Therapy (MET) in Improving Stone-free Rate and Stone Expulsion Time, After Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (SWL) for Upper Urinary Stones: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis AU - Skolarikos, Andreas AU - Grivas, Nikolaos AU - Kallidonis, Panagiotis and AU - Mourmouris, Panagiotis AU - Rountos, Thomas AU - Fiamegos, Alexandros and AU - Stavrou, Sotirios AU - Venetis, Chris AU - RISTA Study Grp JO - European urology oncology PY - 2015 VL - 86 TODO - 6 SP - 1057-1064 PB - EXCERPTA MEDICA INC-ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC SN - null TODO - 10.1016/j.urology.2015.09.004 TODO - null TODO - In this meta-analysis, we included randomized studies on medical expulsive therapy implemented following shock wave lithotripsy for renal and ureteral stones. Pooled results demonstrated the efficacy of alpha-blockers, nifedipine, Rowatinex, and Uriston in increasing stone clearance. In addition, the time to stone elimination, the intensity of pain, the formation of steinstrasse, and the need for auxiliary procedures were reduced mainly with alpha-blockers. Expulsion rate was not correlated with the type of alpha-blocker, the diameter, and the location of stone. Our results show that medical expulsive therapy for residual fragments after shock wave lithotripsy should be implemented in clinical practice. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. ER -