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 Zeng Zhong
Urology
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Is minimally invasive surgery for bladder stones painful?

Minimally invasive surgery for bladder stones is primarily performed through the urethra, using a laser lithotripsy technique. During the surgery, anesthesia is administered, so the patient does not feel any pain. After the surgery, once the anesthesia has metabolized, the patient generally does not experience intense pain. Since the minimally invasive surgery does not involve any abdominal incisions, the patient only needs a catheter to help with urination, which generally does not cause pain.

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Written by Zeng Zhong
Urology
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Postoperative care for minimally invasive bladder stone surgery

Minimally invasive surgery for bladder stones primarily involves performing a holmium laser lithotripsy through a ureteroscope via the urethra. During the procedure, some of the fragmented stones are flushed out of the body. After the surgery, a urinary catheter is installed to assist with urination. On the first day after surgery, patients are not allowed to eat due to the effects of anesthesia. On the second day, patients can consume a light liquid diet. In terms of care, it is important to monitor whether the urinary catheter is clear and unobstructed.

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Written by Zeng Zhong
Urology
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How to effectively treat bladder stones?

The treatment of bladder stones should be based on the specific size and volume of the stones in the patient. For bladder stones smaller than 1.5 centimeters, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy can be used. After the treatment, the patient should drink plenty of water and urinate frequently at home to facilitate the expulsion of the stones. One week later, the patient should return to the hospital for a follow-up ultrasound to observe the condition of the stone expulsion. For bladder stones larger than 1.5 centimeters, surgery is often required.

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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 Wang Shuai
Urology
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Can bladder stones be expelled?

Whether bladder stones can be expelled from the body depends on the size of the stones. If the diameter of the bladder stone is less than 7 millimeters, in this case, by drinking more water and urinating frequently, relying on the flushing action of urine, the stones can be expelled from the bladder in most cases. However, if the stone is larger, with a diameter of 1 centimeter or more, it is difficult to expel the stone through conservative treatment and often requires surgical intervention, such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy or holmium laser lithotripsy under cystoscopy to first crush the stone, then expel it through conservative treatment, or remove the crushed stones directly during the surgery.