Most bladder stones treatment includes removing the bladder stones and also addressing any underlying issues which contribute to bladder stone formation. Your doctor will likely recommend that you increase your water intake to help you flush out the bladder stones naturally. If the stones are too large, your doctor may treat your bladder stones by breaking down the stones and flushing them out of your body. Procedures that break down bladder stones include lithotripsy and transurethral cystolitholapaxy. Alternatively, your doctor may choose to remove your stones through surgery.

Breaking Up Bladder Stones

Transurethral cystolitholapaxy is a procedure which uses a thin, small tube with a camera (cystoscope) which is inserted through the urethra and guided into the bladder to locate the bladder stones. Laser or ultrasound is then used to break down the stones, and fluids are administered to flush the fragments out. This procedure is performed under local anesthesia.Lithotripsy, also called shock wave therapy, is a highly-successful, non-invasive procedure used to break up bladder stones through the use of sound waves. This procedure is done under local anesthesia, but your doctor can give you sedatives to calm you.

Lithotripsy takes about an hour and is performed while you lie on a water-filled cushion. After using ultrasound or xray to locate the stones, your doctor will use high-frequency sound waves which pass through your body and break up the bladder stones. Your doctor may use a stent (a short flexible plastic tube) in the ureter help the stone fragments pass without obstruction.

Bladder Stone Surgery

Surgery is often effective if your bladder stones are dense or large, or if multiple stones exist. In this procedure a cystoscope (a small medical instrument used to examine the bladder) is used to locate the stones, which are then fragmented by ultrasound, or left whole. The stones are then surgically removed using forceps inserted through a small incision in the skin and bladder wall.

Diagnosing Bladder Stones

Your urologist may use urine analysis and specialized imaging tools to confirm the presence, composition and etiology of your bladder stones. Your doctor may also give you a physical examination to determine whether there is a physical obstruction causing your bladder stones, such as a kink in your urethra or an enlarged prostate. These diagnostic tools will help your doctor select a treatment that is right for you and may help prevent painful recurrence of your symptoms.