Abstract

A short-cut systematic review was carried out to establish whether uncomplicated patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with renal colic can be safely discharged. Five studies were directly relevant to the question. The author, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results and study weaknesses of these papers are tabulated. The clinical bottom line is that the current evidence base does not support the safe discharge of ED patients with suspected renal colic, in the absence of imaging.