Title :The Effect of Smoking on Spontaneous Passage of Distal Ureteral Stones Concise Title: Smoking and Passage of Ureteral Stones Authors:

Introduction: Animal studies have shown that nicotine affects the peristalsis of the ureter. The aim of the study is to analyze the effect of smoking on spontaneous passage of distal ureteral stones. Material & Methods: 88 patients in whom distal ureteral stone below 10mm diameter diagnosed with helical computerized tomography enhanced images were reviewed. Patients were grouped as either smokers (n:33) or non smokers(n:50). Follow-up for spontaneous passage of stones was limited with 4 weeks. Patients did not receive any additional medical treatment other than non-steroid antiinflamatory drugs only during painful renal colic episodes. Two groups were compared with the chi-square test in terms of passing the stone or not. Stone passage was confirmed with either the patient collecting the stone during urination or by helical CT.