Is urethral calculus easy to treat?

Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
Updated on September 14, 2024
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Urethral stones are relatively easy to treat. For smaller stones, drinking more water and urinating frequently can help flush the stones out of the body with the flow of urine. If the stones are larger and cause blood in the urine, difficulty urinating, or even urinary retention, they can also be treated with a cystoscope or ureteroscope. Under direct vision, the stones can be broken up with a holmium laser and removed, generally without the need for open surgery. Therefore, if you suffer from urethral stones, there is no need to worry excessively. It is sufficient to promptly visit the hospital's urology department for diagnostic procedures such as ultrasounds or CT scans to determine the exact size and location of the stones, and then choose the appropriate treatment method.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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Can urethral stones be broken up?

Urethral stones can be treated with lithotripsy, but it is necessary to understand the specific location and size of the stones. If the urethral stones are relatively small, there is no need for lithotripsy. By drinking more water and urinating frequently, most patients can expel the stones out of the body through the flushing action of urine. Lithotripsy is only considered when the stones are relatively large and become lodged in the urethra, causing urinary retention and other issues. The common methods used include the use of urethroscopes and cystoscopes, and the stones are crushed under a holmium laser. This procedure requires anesthesia and is considered minimally invasive surgery with relatively small trauma and quick recovery. Generally, patients can be discharged from the hospital three to five days after surgery.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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Is running useful for urethral stones?

If you suffer from urethral stones, running does not have a significant effect. If you have urethral stones, it is recommended to go to the hospital's urology department as soon as possible for a urinary system ultrasound, CT, and other examinations to determine the exact location and size of the stone in the urethra, and then proceed with targeted treatment. If the urethral stone is relatively small, it is advisable to drink more water and urinate frequently, relying on the flushing action of the urine to expel the stone from the body. If the stone is relatively large, it is recommended to have surgery as soon as possible. Running or jumping is generally used for stones in the upper or middle segments of the ureter. In this case, increasing physical activity may cause the stones in the ureter to move into the bladder. If you have urethral stones, vigorous exercise does not have a noticeable effect.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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Causes of Urethral Stones

The formation of urethral stones generally does not occur in the urethra itself; most urethral stones form in the bladder or kidneys. During the process of stone elimination, they fall into the urethra, thus forming urethral stones. After urethral stones occur, patients often experience noticeable pain during urination and a sensation of urinary obstruction. Some patients may also exhibit symptoms of hematuria and should promptly visit the hospital's urology department for an ultrasound to determine the exact size and location of the stones. If the stones are small, it is recommended to drink plenty of water and urinate frequently to flush the stones out of the body. If the stones are larger and become lodged in the urethra, it is advised to seek surgical treatment as soon as possible to break down and eliminate the stones.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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How long does it take to be discharged from the hospital after urethral stone surgery?

The situation depends on the type of surgery. If it is a minimally invasive surgery, such as ureteroscopic or cystoscopic lithotripsy and stone removal, patients generally can be discharged three to five days after surgery. However, if an open surgery like urethrotomy for stone extraction is performed, the urethra suffers some damage and a longer period of catheterization is necessary, generally about two weeks. Therefore, the catheter is usually removed two weeks post-surgery, and after observing the urination situation, the patient may then be discharged. Overall, if it is a minimally invasive surgery for stone removal, the general discharge time is about three to five days. If it is an open surgery, discharge typically occurs over two weeks after the surgery.

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Urology
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What to eat for urethral stones?

The treatment of urethral stones depends on the size of the stone. If the stone is very small, it can be expelled from the body through increased physical activity and water consumption; generally, stones less than 0.4cm can be expelled. Larger stones may become lodged in the urethra, causing difficulty urinating or even urine retention. A urethral probe can be used to push the stone into the bladder, where it can then be broken up using surgery or extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, and subsequently expelled from the body. If the urethral stone is very close to the urinary opening, it can also be directly removed with hemostatic forceps. Therefore, the dietary considerations for someone with a urethral stone depend primarily on the size and position of the stone, with most requiring repositioning into the bladder or surgery.