Which department should I go to for urethral stones?

Written by Sun Chun
Urology
Updated on September 12, 2024
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For urethral stones, it is generally advisable to visit the urology department of a local hospital. It is best to undergo an abdominal plain film examination to clearly determine the location of the stone, which can also be identified through a urological examination. If it is an anterior urethral stone, which is close to the urethral opening, it can be removed through the urethra using methods such as compression. If it is a posterior urethral stone, it may not be reachable with forceps; in such cases, surgery at the hospital may be necessary. Posterior urethral stones are generally treated as bladder stones. When a cystoscope is inserted, posterior urethral stones are usually pushed into the bladder, where they can be crushed with forceps or fragmented with a laser before removal. If an examination reveals a urinary tract infection, anti-inflammatory symptomatic treatment is also necessary, and a catheter may be left in place post-surgery.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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What should not be eaten with urethral stones?

After suffering from urethral stones, there are no special dietary restrictions. The occurrence of urethral stones is an emergency in urology, as it can cause the patient to experience frequent urination, urgency, and pain during urination. Severe cases may lead to hematuria and urinary retention. Emergency treatment is necessary for urethral stones. If the stone is small, it can be expelled from the body by drinking more water and urinating frequently, relying on the flushing action of the urine. If the stone is large and causes obstruction in the urethra, prompt surgical treatment is needed to crush and remove the stone from the body. Therefore, after suffering from urethral stones, there are no special dietary restrictions, and it is recommended to handle it as soon as possible to restore the smoothness of urination.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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What is the best treatment for urethral stones?

For the treatment of urethral stones, we first need to use ultrasonography or CT scans to determine the exact location and size of the stones within the urethra for treatment. If the stone is relatively small, such as about five millimeters, this condition can be treated by drinking more water and urinating frequently, relying on the flushing action of the urine to expel the stone from the body promptly. If the stone is larger, and has caused obstruction in the urethra, it is necessary to see the specific location of the stone. If it is causing obstruction in the posterior urethra, a cystoscope can be used to push the stone back into the bladder before performing lithotripsy. If the obstruction is in the anterior urethra, a small amount of liquid paraffin oil can be injected into the urethra to squeeze the stone out, or treatment can be conducted through holmium laser lithotripsy or open surgical stone removal.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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What are the symptoms of urethral stones?

The symptoms of urethral stones are primarily related to the size and location of the stone. Smaller urethral stones generally do not cause discomfort and can be expelled from the body through urination. However, some urethral stones may cause pain within the urethra or even lead to the presence of blood in the urine. If the stone is large and lodges in the posterior urethra, it can cause complete obstruction of the urethra, leading to significant difficulty in urination, or even result in urinary retention. Therefore, the clinical manifestations of urethral stones vary depending on the size and location of the stone. If the stone is large and causes acute urinary infection or obstruction, leading to urinary retention, prompt surgical treatment is necessary.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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What should I do about urethral stone pain?

Urethral stones can easily irritate the urethral mucosa, causing urethral pain which intensifies during urination. Some patients may also experience significant urinary obstruction and urinary retention. In such cases, it is crucial to visit the hospital's urology department promptly for examinations such as ultrasonography and CT scans to determine the exact location and size of the stone for appropriate treatment. If the pain is severe, pain relief medication can be used initially before addressing the stone. If the stone is relatively small, drinking plenty of water and frequent urination can help expel the stone from the body. If the stone is large, timely surgical intervention is necessary to break and remove the stone. Only by removing the stone can the root cause of the pain be fundamentally resolved.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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What should I do if I have hematuria due to urinary stones?

Urethral stones accompanied by hematuria mainly occur because the stones damage the mucosa and blood vessels of the urethra, causing blood in the urine. In such cases, one should first go to the hospital's urology department and undergo examinations such as color Doppler ultrasound and CT to determine the specific location and size of the stone, and then proceed with targeted treatment. If the stone is located in the posterior urethra, it is advised to push the stone back into the bladder using a cystoscope, then use a holmium laser under cystoscopic guidance to break the stone and expel it from the body. If the stone is located in the anterior urethra, it can be fragmented using a holmium laser through a ureteroscope and expelled, or a urethrotomy can be performed to remove the stone.