Approximately 1% of all emergency department (ED) visits are for treatment of urinary tract stone disease (renal colic, kidney stones, urolithiasis). Renal colic is a common condition affecting approximately 7–13% of the population during their lifetime and those who are afflicted are likely to have recurrent attacks throughout their lives. Through the following case series, we present sonographic bladder wall findings in patients with renal colic.
A previously healthy 25-year-old man presented to a community emergency department (ED) with two hours of sharp, intermittent, right-sided flank pain associated with hematuria. Vital signs showed no fever or tachycardia. Abdominal and genitourinary exam were benign.