Bladder stones are hard minerals lumps forming small stones in the urinary bladder. Most commonly, it affects older males. Small stones often pass naturally, but larger stones require proper treatment.
In this article, Dr. Niren Rao explains how bladder stones form, their symptoms, causes, and ways to treat them. Dr. Niren Rao is a renowned urologist practicing at Dr. Niren Rao’s Urology Practice and is known for performing the best Bladder Stone Surgery in Delhi. Continue reading to learn more.
Bladder Stones: Overview
Bladder stones are clusters of minerals that form in the bladder, where urine is stored until it is excreted. The minerals create these stones in the urine. While they are small in size, they do not cause trouble because they pass out quickly. When they develop into hard masses, one may require surgery or a treatment to get rid of them. If bladder stones are left untreated, one could experience infection, bleeding, urinary tract issues, and pain when urinating.
What are the Causes of Bladder Stones?
The exact cause of bladder stone formation is not known. However, there is a correlation between some factors and the incidence of urinary stones. The other common causes of bladder stones include:
Prior history of stones
Urinary tract infection
Dehydration/ Inadequate fluid intake
Dietary conditions such as high intake of protein, salts, minerals etc.
Conditions that prevent or lessen urine flow, such as an enlarged prostate or a stricture of the urethra.
A few illnesses, such as thyroid problems, gout, and arthritis.
What are the Common Symptoms of Bladder Stones?
“The body gives various symptoms for different disorders to indicate the disturbance in the normal functioning of the body mechanisms, says Dr. Niren Rao, a famous Bladder Stone Specialist in Delhi.” Some of the common symptoms of bladder stones are listed below:
Blood in urine
Extreme pain, burning sensation or irritation while urinating
Pain in the lower abdomen
Frequent urination
Inability to pass urine at times. This happens when a small bladder stone gets stuck in the urethra.
Poor flow of urine
Change in the color of urine
Penile discomfort in men
Fever
If one experiences any of the symptoms mentioned above, one should immediately consult Dr. Niren Rao, an experienced urologist at Dr. Niren Rao’s Urology Practice and get an effective treatment for bladder stones.
How is Bladder Stone Diagnosed?
To diagnose a bladder stone, the patient is asked to undertake an X-ray and CT scan and a physical examination as suggested by the doctor. The following are some of the tests which help in diagnosing a bladder stone:
X-ray KUB: This is a basic investigation done to access the abdominal area and to diagnose a bladder stone.
Ultrasound: This helps to locate the presence of stone and the size of the prostate. The medical practitioner can also check the health of the kidneys with an ultrasound.
NCCT KUB: It is a scan to obtain the body's detailed internal images. It shows the exact size and location of not only the bladder stones but kidney stones too. The hardness of the stone is examined on the basis of Hounsfield units.
Uroflowmetry: It measures the flow of urine and is done to rule out narrowing of urine passage, i.e. structure urethra, before planning bladder stone surgery.
Urine routine/microscopy and urine culture: This test is performed to check for any infection before planning the surgical treatment of bladder stones.
How are Bladder Stones Treated?
Dr. Niren Rao performs the following tests to perform a successful bladder stone surgery in Delhi. The methods utilized are:
1. Transurethral Cystolithocapaxy: A Transurethral Cystolithocapaxy is the most common method used in adults to treat bladder stones. In this procedure, the urologist inserts a small, rigid tube having a camera at the end into the urethra inside the bladder. The camera helps to locate the bladder stones. The stones can be broken up into smaller fragments using a crushing device, lasers, or ultrasound waves sent from the cystoscope, which can then be removed from the bladder with fluids. A transurethral cystolitholapaxy is carried out under local or general anesthesia so that the patient does not experience pain during the procedure. The patient might develop an infection during the procedure, for which the experts will give antibiotics as a precaution.
2. Percutaneous Cystolithotomy PCCL: A small incision is made in the lower abdominal wall. Another cut is made in the bladder to remove the bladder stones. This is done by using another telescope called nephoscopy to detect the stone, break them into smaller particles and remove them. This method is employed for removing very large stones.
3. Open Cystolithotomy: It is an open surgical method that is mainly performed in the case of small children to prevent damage to the urine tube(urethra) and in older patients with large prostates. During this procedure, a small incision is made through the skin and in the bladder. The stone is eliminated, and the bladder gets stitched back.
What Can One Expect in the Postoperative Period?
After the surgery, the experts use a catheter to insert inside the bladder, which remains here for 24-48 hours.
Some patients might observe light pink-colored urine for a few days after the surgery.
The patient is given an antibiotic for 5-7 days post-surgery to prevent any infection from occurring.
After removing the catheter, the patient could experience a low frequency of urination and burning while passing urine for a few days.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bladder Stones
1. How to Get Rid of Bladder Stones?
The only way to remove a bladder stone that won't pass naturally is to surgically remove it.
2. Can Bladder Stones be Life Threatening?
Bladder stones are not life-threatening, but if they do not pass away on their own and aren't removed, they could result in difficulties like:
• uncomfortable and frequent urination
• urine flow obstruction
• urinary tract infections
3. Are Bladder Stones and Gallstones Similar?
Bladder and kidney stones are made up of mineral deposits. As the name suggests, bladder stones develop in the bladder, whereas gallbladder stones, or gallstones, develop due to the cholesterol imbalance. They do not form in the bladder but in the gallbladder or bile duct.
4. How Large a Bladder Stone Can Get?
The smallest bladder stone is rarely visible to the naked eye, but some bladder stones develop to a bigger size. According to a survey, the largest bladder stone was measured at 17.9 x 12.7 x 9.5 centimeters.
5. Can Children Also Suffer from Bladder Stones?
Children are less likely to have bladder stones or calculi as compared to adults.
Conclusion
Most bladder stones can be surgically removed or passed on their own. However, they do not cause permanent damage to the bladder. But if the root cause is not dealt with, they might reappear. Untreated stones may result in recurrent UTIs. The bladder or kidneys may also suffer long-term harm due to this.
To learn more about bladder stone surgery or the effective treatments, one can consult Dr. Niren Rao, the Best Urologist in Delhi, at Dr. Niren Rao’s Urology Practice today.
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