The impact of COVID-19 on acute urinary stone presentations: a single-centre experience

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a change in the numbers of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with non-COVID symptoms, resulting in delayed presentations of many medical and surgical conditions. AIMS: To examine the impact of COVID-19 on acute urolithiasis presentations to the ED. METHODS: In this retrospective, single-centre, observational study, we reviewed all CT KUBs (and their corresponding cases) ordered in ED for possible acute urolithiasis in a 100-day period immediately prior to COVID-19 and in a 100-day period immediately afterwards. We sought to establish the number of CT KUBs performed and the number confirming urolithiasis. We recorded patients’ age, gender, stone size and location. We also analysed CRP, WCC and creatinine as well as the duration of patients’ pain and the management strategy adopted for each case. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-eight CT KUBs were performed, 94 pre-COVID and 104 intra-COVID. A total of 70.2% (n = 66) and 66.3% (n = 69) were positive for urolithiasis pre-COVID and intra-COVID respectively (p = 0.56). There was a significantly higher percentage of females pre-COVID compared with intra-COVID (54% vs 36%, p = 0.012). There was no difference in median ureteric stone size seen between the groups (4.7 mm pre-COVID vs 4.0 mm intra-COVID, p = 0.179). There were no significant differences in WCC, CRP or creatinine levels. One patient in the pre-COVID group and two in the intra-COVID groups required percutaneous nephrostomies. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic did not result in fewer or sicker patients presenting with acute ureteric colic cases to the ED.