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 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 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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Urology
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What should not be eaten with urethral stones?

After suffering from urethral stones, there are no special dietary restrictions. The occurrence of urethral stones is an emergency in urology, as it can cause the patient to experience frequent urination, urgency, and pain during urination. Severe cases may lead to hematuria and urinary retention. Emergency treatment is necessary for urethral stones. If the stone is small, it can be expelled from the body by drinking more water and urinating frequently, relying on the flushing action of the urine. If the stone is large and causes obstruction in the urethra, prompt surgical treatment is needed to crush and remove the stone from the body. Therefore, after suffering from urethral stones, there are no special dietary restrictions, and it is recommended to handle it as soon as possible to restore the smoothness of urination.

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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.