Gilaburu extract (Viburnum opulus Linnaeus) is as effective as Tamsulosin in medical expulsive therapy of distal ureteral calculi

Background To compare the extract of Gilaburu (Viburnum opulus Linnaeus) and Tamsulosin as a medical expulsive therapy (MET) in patients with distal ureteral calculi of 10 mm or less. Methods Data of 86 patients were prospectively collected. The patients were divided into two groups. In the first group, Viburnum opulus 1000 mg peroral 3 x 2 and diclofenac 50 mg peroral on-demand (n = 43), in the second group Tamsulosin 0.4 mg peroral 1 x 1 and diclofenac 50 mg peroral on-demand (n = 43) was given for MET in patients with distal ureteral calculi. Stone expulsion rates, time until expulsion, additional analgesic requirement, need for emergency admission, need for additional treatment were evaluated. In addition, subgroup analyses of <= 5 and 5-10 mm were also performed. Results There was no difference between the groups in terms of stone expulsion rates and time until the expulsion in all stones. Additional analgesic requirement and need for emergency admission were found to be lower in the Viburnum opulus group (37.2% vs 65.1%, P = .017 and 11.6% vs 34.8%, P = .02, respectively). In subgroup analyses, while stone expulsion rates were similar in subgroups, it was found shorter in the time until expulsion, lower additional analgesic requirement and need for emergency admission in V. opulus group than Tamsulosin group in 5-10 mm stone size subgroup (7.1 +/- 4.2 vs 11.8 +/- 5.2, P = .005, 32.2% vs 77.7%, P = .001 and 12.9% vs 40.7%, respectively). Conclusion V. opulus can be used effectively and safely for the treatment of MET in distal ureteral calculi.