What should I do if I have hematuria due to urethral stones?

Written by Wang Jian
Urology
Updated on September 05, 2024
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For urethral stones, if hematuria occurs, the size of the urethral stones should be first considered. Generally, urethral stones are caused by kidney stones or ureter stones that move to and become lodged in the urethra, with the main symptoms being blood in the urine, difficulty urinating, and even urinary retention.

If the urethral stone is relatively small, exercising more and drinking more water usually can help in expelling the stones out of the body; this generally applies to stones smaller than four millimeters. If the stone is larger and cannot be expelled, it is recommended to undergo cystoscopy to push the stone back into the bladder to be broken up and removed, or to directly remove the stone through the urethra. Additionally, if the stone is very close to the external opening of the urethra, it can also be removed using hemostatic forceps to clamp out the urethral stone.

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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 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.

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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 Sun Chun
Urology
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How to check for urethral stones

Urethral stone examinations are primarily divided into the following areas: Firstly, the physical examination provided by the clinical doctor which checks for urethral stones can be categorized into anterior and posterior urethral stones. For anterior urethral stones, one can feel a hard nodule inside the urethra with their hand. Combined with specific symptoms, such as sudden stabbing pain during urination or a sudden inability to urinate, and if there is a history of urinary system stones, then urethral stones might be considered. As for posterior urethral stones, they cannot be felt externally; if they are lodged at the prostate, a doctor might insert a finger into the rectum to touch the area around the prostate. If a hard nodule is felt upon pressing, then a posterior urethral stone might be considered. Secondly, a more accurate clinical exam is the plain film radiography of the urinary system, commonly known as X-rays. Generally, most stones contain calcium, and in such cases, the X-ray can reveal a hard nodule in either the posterior or anterior urethra, which can be diagnosed as urethral stones. Thirdly, the urinary system's CT scans can sometimes detect radiolucent stones, such as uric acid stones. It can also identify conditions like kidney hydronephrosis in the bladder and stones in other parts of the urinary system. If all examinations, including auxiliary checks, suggest the presence of urethral stones, treatment depends on the situation. If the anterior urethral stone is not large, stone retrieval may be performed. Posterior urethral stones are generally treated like bladder stones; after pushing them into the bladder using a cystoscope, the stones are broken down either by lithotripsy or laser.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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Is urethral calculus easy to treat?

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.