Emergency Medicine Exam 1 Practice

Discharge after a stone-related visit hinges on safety and symptom control. If pain has been adequately relieved and the patient can tolerate oral intake, with stable vitals and no signs of infection, they can be managed at home with instructions and planned follow-up. Pain control is the best clue that outpatient management is appropriate because ongoing pain often means continued IV analgesia or observation is needed; infection would necessitate admission with IV antibiotics; and a stone larger than 10 mm is unlikely to pass on its own and typically requires urologic intervention rather than discharge.