Can bladder stones be expelled?

Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
Updated on September 01, 2024
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Whether bladder stones can be expelled from the body depends on the size of the stones. If the diameter of the bladder stone is less than 7 millimeters, in this case, by drinking more water and urinating frequently, relying on the flushing action of urine, the stones can be expelled from the bladder in most cases. However, if the stone is larger, with a diameter of 1 centimeter or more, it is difficult to expel the stone through conservative treatment and often requires surgical intervention, such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy or holmium laser lithotripsy under cystoscopy to first crush the stone, then expel it through conservative treatment, or remove the crushed stones directly during the surgery.

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Written by Zeng Zhong
Urology
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Is it normal to have blood in urine with bladder stones?

Patients with bladder stones may experience frequent urination, painful urination, and even hematuria. These all belong to the symptoms of bladder stones, therefore, it is normal for bladder stones to cause blood in urine. The main treatment for patients with bladder stones is based on the size of the stones. For smaller bladder stones, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy can be used for treatment. After treatment, patients should drink plenty of water and urinate frequently at home to facilitate the expulsion of the stones, and then return to the hospital for a follow-up. For larger bladder stones, surgery is required for treatment.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
41sec home-news-image

Can bladder stones be expelled?

Whether bladder stones can be expelled from the body depends on the size of the stones. If the diameter of the bladder stone is less than 7 millimeters, in this case, by drinking more water and urinating frequently, relying on the flushing action of urine, the stones can be expelled from the bladder in most cases. However, if the stone is larger, with a diameter of 1 centimeter or more, it is difficult to expel the stone through conservative treatment and often requires surgical intervention, such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy or holmium laser lithotripsy under cystoscopy to first crush the stone, then expel it through conservative treatment, or remove the crushed stones directly during the surgery.

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Written by Zeng Zhong
Urology
31sec home-news-image

How big must a bladder stone be to require surgery?

Bladder stones are a common type of urinary system calculus. Generally, stones with a diameter greater than 1.5 centimeters require surgical treatment. Currently, minimally invasive surgery is performed, which is transurethral ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy. This involves inserting a ureteroscope through the urethra into the bladder, locating the bladder stones under direct vision, and using a holmium laser fiber to fragment them, while simultaneously extracting the broken pieces.

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Written by Wang Jian
Urology
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What should I do about bladder stone pain?

Bladder stones are most commonly found in male patients, typically seen in those with prostate enlargement or urethral stricture. Due to the slow urinary flow caused by prostate enlargement or urethral stricture, stones are easily formed. Additionally, foreign bodies in the urethra and infections can also lead to stone formation. Symptoms of bladder stones primarily include difficulty urinating, interrupted urination, painful urination, and blood in the urine. Pain from the stones can be treated with pain relief medications. Small bladder stones can be expelled from the body with increased physical activity and water intake. Larger bladder stones generally require surgical procedures to break and remove the stones.

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Written by Zeng Zhong
Urology
35sec home-news-image

Causes of bladder stones

There are two causes of bladder stones: First, it may be due to kidney stones that move down through the ureter and form bladder stones. Second, it is mainly due to obstructions in the urinary tract, such as an enlarged prostate, which causes the patient's bladder to not completely empty the urine each time, leading to urinary retention. Over time, stones can develop in the bladder and thus form bladder stones. The treatment of bladder stones depends on the size of the stone. You can visit the urology department of your local hospital for examination and treatment.