How big must a bladder stone be to require surgery?

Written by Zeng Zhong
Urology
Updated on September 12, 2024
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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 Zeng Zhong
Urology
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What are the symptoms of bladder stones?

The symptoms of bladder stones primarily include frequent urination, urgent urination, painful urination, visible blood in the urine, and sometimes interrupted urination. Bladder stones mainly form when kidney stones move down through the ureters into the bladder. Another cause may be due to urinary obstruction, such as prostate enlargement in males, an elevated bladder neck, etc., leading to urinary retention, which in turn causes the formation of bladder stones. Bladder stones are a common disease in the urinary system and can be cured with proper treatment at a hospital’s urology department.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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What department should I go to for bladder stones?

Bladder stones are a condition treated by the urology department, requiring medical examination and treatment at a hospital. The treatment method chosen depends on the specific size of the stones. If the diameter of the stone is less than 7 millimeters, conservative treatment can be adopted, which involves drinking more water and urinating frequently to flush the stones out of the body. If the stones are larger, they need to be crushed before being expelled or directly removed through the use of a cystoscope. Under cystoscopy, stones can be crushed using a Holmium laser and then removed. After surgery, drinking plenty of water and urinating frequently can help prevent the recurrence of stones.

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Written by Zou De Bo
Urology
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What should be paid attention to in the diet for bladder stones?

If the bladder stones are oxalate stones, to prevent their formation, one should avoid eating foods high in oxalates, such as spinach, mushrooms, potatoes, strong tea, coffee, chocolate, etc. If the stones are urate, one should reduce the intake of foods high in uric acid, such as animal offal and seafood. It is important to drink more water regularly to develop a good habit of hydration, as increased water intake can dilute the urine crystals, making it easier for stones to be expelled from the body. Thirdly, eat less high-fat food and avoid high-cholesterol foods, such as animal offal, abstain from smoking and drinking, and reduce meat consumption.

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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 Zeng Zhong
Urology
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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.