Treatment of urinary calculi in the combat zone

Renal colic is a common condition among deployed soldiers in the Middle East. Eight percent of all admissions to the jump package of the 21st Combat Support Hospital in Mosul, Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom involved patients with renal colic and urinary stones. The majority of patients were treated successfully with primary care measures. Fourteen percent of patients required urologic interventions; however, many of these soldiers were treated with ureteral stents and returned to duty. Aggressive management of urolithiasis resulted in 92% of soldiers remaining in the combat zone, preserving the fighting strength of supported units.