WHAT ARE BLADDER STONES?
Bladder stones are hard masses of minerals in the bladder. They form when the minerals in concentrated urine crystallize. This can happen when you have problems emptying the bladder.
SYMPTOMS OF BLADDER STONES
Symptoms of bladder stones include discomfort or pain in the penis for males, frequent urination, pain when urinating and blood in urine.
DIAGNOSING BLADDER STONES
A computed tomography (CT) scan is often used to diagnose bladder stones. An X-ray can also be used to diagnose bladder stones. A cystoscopy can also be performed to diagnose bladder stones. It is a procedure which uses a small scope to look inside the bladder to check for stones.
TREATMENTS FOR BLADDER STONES
- Cystolitholapaxy
This procedure involves using a scope to visualize the stones in the bladder and then breaking the stones into tiny fragments using lasers or ultrasound. The fragments are then removed from the bladder.
- Surgery
For larger stones, surgery may be needed. It will involve making an incision in the abdomen and removing the stones.
