What is the best way to treat bladder stones?

Bladder stones can be treated by drinking more water, adjusting diet, medication, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, and transurethral cystoscopic lithotomy. Bladder stones may be related to urinary tract infection, urinary tract obstruction, metabolic abnormalities and other factors, and usually manifest as symptoms such as difficulty urinating, hematuria, and lower abdominal pain.

1. Drink more water

Maintaining adequate drinking water every day can help dilute urine, reduce crystal deposition, and promote the passage of small stones. It is recommended to choose boiled water or light lemonade and avoid oxalic acid-containing drinks such as strong tea and coffee. Increased urine output can reduce the probability of stone recurrence, but it should be noted that patients with renal insufficiency need to control the amount of water they drink.

2. Adjust your diet

Limit the intake of high-oxalate foods such as spinach and nuts, and reduce animal protein and salt. Increase citrus fruits to supplement citrate, and consume dairy products appropriately to maintain calcium balance. Patients with uric acid stones need to limit their purine diet and avoid high-purine foods such as animal offal and seafood.

3. Drug treatment

Sodium potassium hydrogen citrate granules can alkalize urine and dissolve uric acid stones, allopurinol tablets inhibit the production of uric acid, and tamsulosin capsules relax ureteral smooth muscle and promote stone expulsion. Use antibiotics such as levofloxacin tablets to control co-infections, but doctor's advice must be strictly followed to avoid drug resistance.

4. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy

It is suitable for stones with a diameter of less than 2 cm, and the stones are crushed by shock waves generated outside the body. Renal function and coagulation function need to be evaluated before treatment. Reactions such as hematuria and renal colic may occur after surgery. It is necessary to cooperate with drug removal of stones and review to ensure that the gravel is cleared.

5. Cystoscopy Lithotomy

The endoscope inserted through the urethra can directly crush or remove stones, which is suitable for patients with large size or patients with prostatic hyperplasia. A urinary catheter needs to be left in place for 1-3 days after surgery, and antibiotics such as cefixime dispersible tablets are used prophylactically. People with long-term indwelling urinary catheters need to change them regularly to avoid infection.

Patients with bladder stones should maintain a daily urine output of more than 2,000 ml and avoid holding urine for a long time. Limit high-purine and high-oxalate diets, and regularly review urinary system ultrasound. Seek medical attention immediately if you develop fever, persistent hematuria or severe low back pain. Postoperative patients need to be reviewed every 3-6 months to monitor the recurrence of stones. Appropriate jumping exercises can help promote the passage of tiny stones, but it is necessary to avoid strenuous exercise that may cause stones to shift and cause colic.