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What are Bladder Stones?
Bladder stones (or calculi) are stones or buildups of minerals in your urinary bladder.
What causes Bladder Stones?
Bladder stones are most often caused by voiding problems which can lead to incomplete emptying of urine from the bladder. Minerals like calcium or magnesium in your concentrated and stagnant urine crystallize to form bladder stones. Voiding problems may be caused by conditions such as enlarged prostate or benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), neurogenic bladder (bladder problems caused by nerve injury), bladder diverticulum (out pouching of the bladder) and bladder suspension/lift procedures.​
Foreign bodies such as Foley Catheters (bladder tube), forgotten ureteral stent or stitches left inside the bladder may form a center (nidus) for stone formation inside the bladder. ​In developing countries, a common cause of bladder stones in children occurs as a result of malnutrition.
What are the Symptoms of Bladder Stones?
Bladder Stones may cause:
Urination problems
Frequent urination, urgent urination, start/stop urination, difficulty in starting stream
Pain in lower abdomen
Pain in penis
Bladder infection
Blood in urine
What treatment is available for bladder stones?
Bladder stones can be removed during a procedure called cystolitholapaxy. Your doctor inserts a cystoscope (a small telescope) through your urethra into your bladder. The doctor then uses mechanical instruments or laser to break the stone into small pieces and removes the pieces by flushing them out. Cystolitholapaxy can usually be done under general (completely out) or spinal anesthesia (numbing from the waist down). It can also be done as an out patient, same day procedure.
*The underlying causes of the bladder stones should also be treated at the same time.
Video 1 : Cystolitholapaxy with Holmium Laser
What are the potential risks and complications?
Complications from a cystolitholapaxy are not common. They include, but are not limited to bleeding, infection, fever, injury, or tear in the bladder or urethra, and an additional procedure or surgery may be needed.
What should I do to prepare for the procedure?
Before the procedure your doctor will perform a history and physical exam as well as order appropriate laboratory tests to make sure you are in good condition for the procedure.
You should let your doctor know: if you are or may be pregnant, have any allergies to medications or food (such as seafood), or allergies to latex (rubber).
You should let your doctor know of all the medications you are taking including over the counter medications.
If you are taking blood thinners (eg. Coumadin, Plavix, aspirin, ibuprofen, etc.), ask your doctor when to stop taking these medications.
If you have diabetes you should ask your doctor if you should stop taking diabetic medications on the day of procedure.
Normally, you can take other medications with a tiny sip of water. Generally, you cannot eat or drink anything, with the exception of a tiny sip of water, at least 8 hours prior to procedure.
You should also arrange for transportation to and from the surgery center or hospital.
Call your Doctor if...
You have fever (temperature greater than 101F)
You have shaking chills
There is heavy bleeding (passing blood thick like ketchup)
You are in severe pain (not controlled by pain medication)
You have severe nausea or vomiting