Kidney Stones

Overview

Kidney stones cause sudden severe flank pain that radiates to the groin, often with nausea, vomiting, and blood in the urine. Most small stones (<5 mm) pass on their own with hydration, NSAIDs, and tamsulosin to relax the ureter. Clindle evaluates suspected stones, orders a CT urogram at a local imaging center, prescribes pain control (non-opioid NSAIDs first), and refers to urology for larger stones or signs of obstruction. Fever with flank pain is an emergency — possible obstructed infected stone needs an ER.