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 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.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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How to expel bladder stones from the body

The treatment for bladder stones primarily involves understanding the size of the stones. If the stones are smaller than seven millimeters, in this case, drinking more water and urinating frequently can help expel the stones from the body through the flushing action of the urine. If the stones are larger in diameter, it is recommended to first undergo extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy or holmium laser lithotripsy under cystoscopy to break the stones into smaller pieces. During the surgical process, the crushed stones are directly flushed out of the body. After the surgery, drinking more water and urinating frequently can help to completely remove any remaining 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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Urology
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What vegetables should be eaten for bladder stones?

Patients with bladder stones can eat vegetables in their diet. The main point is to avoid eating spicy and stimulating foods. For example, using a lot of chili peppers when frying vegetables is not advisable. Therefore, patients with bladder stones need to visit the urology department of the local hospital for formal treatment. For stones that are relatively small, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy can be performed. For larger stones, surgical treatment is necessary, such as a minimally invasive transurethral ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy. Only such measures can completely cure bladder stones.

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Written by Zeng Zhong
Urology
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Can bladder stones cause frequent and urgent urination?

Patients with bladder stones may experience frequent and urgent urination, and some may also experience painful urination or even blood in the urine. This is primarily due to the movement of stones within the bladder, which irritates the mucous membrane. It is essential to treat bladder stones promptly. Treatment can be sought at the urology department of local hospitals, where the choice of treatment method depends on the size of the stones. Options include extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy or surgical treatment.