Are bladder stones easy to pass?

Written by Zeng Zhong
Urology
Updated on September 23, 2024
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Patients with bladder stones, if the stones are less than 0.5 cm in size, can promote the natural expulsion of the stones by drinking more water and urinating frequently. If the stones are larger, over 0.5 cm in size, treatment may require extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy or surgery. For patients undergoing extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, generally, if the stones are between 0.5-1.5 cm in size, this treatment can be performed. After the treatment, it is also necessary to drink more water and urinate frequently to facilitate the expulsion of the stones. For larger stones, over 1.5 cm, surgical treatment is required.

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Written by Zou De Bo
Urology
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Clinical manifestations of bladder stones

Generally speaking, a typical clinical manifestation of bladder stones is the sudden interruption of urination. That is, the patient may start to urinate normally, but then suddenly becomes unable to urinate midway through. Urination can resume once the patient changes position. Therefore, this sudden interruption of urination is a classic symptom of bladder stones. Of course, bladder stones can also cause other urinary tract irritation symptoms, such as frequent urination, urgency, pain during urination, and hematuria (blood in urine).

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Written by Zeng Zhong
Urology
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Can bladder stones be crushed?

Whether bladder stones can be treated with lithotripsy depends on their size. If the stone is relatively small, less than 1.5 cm, it can be treated with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. For larger stones, the effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is often not very good, and surgical treatment is required, generally for stones larger than 1.5 cm. Currently, the surgical approach involves a minimally invasive procedure using ureteroscopy with holmium laser lithotripsy, and the typical hospital stay is usually less than a week.

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Written by Zeng Zhong
Urology
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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.

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Written by Wang Jian
Urology
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What should be paid attention to with bladder stones?

Bladder stones are stones formed inside the bladder, including both primary and secondary bladder stones. The typical symptoms of bladder stones are pain and hematuria, often accompanied by interrupted urine flow, which is a distinctive manifestation of bladder stones. Through ultrasound examination of the urinary system, the size, shape, and number of stones inside the bladder can be detected. For the treatment of bladder stones, small stones can typically pass through the urethra on their own, generally if they are less than 0.6 centimeters. Larger bladder stones can be treated with intravesical lithotripsy. Methods of lithotripsy include extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and transurethral lithotripsy to break and remove the stones. Additionally, individuals with bladder stones should drink plenty of water, urinate frequently, and avoid spicy and irritating foods.

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Written by Zeng Zhong
Urology
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Minimally Invasive Surgery Procedure for Bladder Stones

Before the surgery, the patient enters the operating room where the doctor administers anesthesia to ensure that the patient will not feel any pain during the procedure. Once the anesthesia takes effect, the patient is positioned in the lithotomy position. The surgeon then sterilizes the surgical area and inserts a ureteroscope through the urethra into the bladder. Once the bladder stones are identified with the help of a monitor, the patient does not feel any discomfort, and the doctor uses a Holmium laser fiber to directly break up the stones in the bladder.