Hematuria in renal colic
Date First Published:
August 5, 2010
Last Updated:
December 10, 2010
Report by:
Laith Sultan, Senior Emergency Trainee (Manchester Royal Infirmary)
Three-Part Question:
In a [ patient presenting with symptoms suggestive of renal colic] is the [absence of hematuria] [sensitive to role out this diagnosis]?
Clinical Scenario:
You are called to the emergency department to see a 35 years old man who presented with severe left loin to groin pain and vomitting. On examination you find him rolling in the bed, tachycardic and has a left renal angle tenderness. You control his pain and decide to run a urine test to confirm the diagnosis of renal colic. The urine dipstick comes back as normal, and leaves you with this question: How sensitive is the lack of hematuria in rule out the diagnosis of acute renal colic?