Update on medical expulsive therapy for distal ureteral stones: Beyond alpha-blockers

Medical expulsive therapy (MET) has been described as an effective conservative treatment option in the initial management of small distal ureteral stones. Therapies that have been investigated include alpha-blockers, calcium channel blockers, corticosteroids, and most recently phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5) inhibitors. While alpha-blockers are currently the only recommended monotherapy, corticosteroids have received increased attention as a potential useful adjunct in the medical management of distal stones. PDE5 inhibitors are a novel treatment alternative, requiring further investigation. This review provides an overview of recent MET best practices, with a focus on novel therapies beyond alpha-blockers.