Treatment of renal colic using intracutaneous injection of sterile water

Abstract

Introduction: To evaluate the intracutaneous injection of sterile water in the treatment of renal colic.

Materials and methods: One hundred patients with renal colic were randomly divided into two groups of 50 patients and underwent the treatment. In the first (study) group 0.5 ml of sterile water and in the control group, 0.5 ml of normal saline was intradermally injected. The severity of pain was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) system before and 30 and 90 minutes after the injection. Patients in whom the presence of stone was not proved were excluded from the study.

Results: Before the treatment mean pain severity in the study group was 9.860.4 and in the control group was 9.960.19, so that the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.12). Thirty and 90 minutes after the injection, the means were 0.762.3 and 1.022.63 in study group and 5.944 and 6.74.19 in control group, respectively. The results in 30 and 90 minutes between the two groups were statistically significant (p=0.000 and p=0.000, respectively). Pain in all patients in the study group was relieved; however, only %34 of the patients in the control group reported a decrease in pain. There was no complication among the patients of both groups and only a severe and transient pain during injection was reported by the patients.

Conclusion: This study along with many other existing studies indicates the efficacy of intradermal injection of sterile water for the treatment of severe pain syndromes such as renal colic. The advantages of this method are its efficacy, availability, cost benefits, and easy application. We recommend the use of this approach for the treatment of renal colic.