Bladder stones are the first signs. Surgical treatment methods are indicated in such cases

In this case, medicine distinguishes and takes into account exactly where the source of stone formation is localized. But, depending on the specific scenario, the prescribed treatment may apply either only to this lesion or to the entire urinary tract. As a rule, the focus is located in the kidneys - in both or in one, in a certain part of the organ or in several parts of it at the same time. Naturally, kidney stones are inevitably washed out into the bladder. Not everything, of course, - it directly depends on the size and degree of mobility of the stone. However, a certain percentage always leaves the kidneys.

Cases where stones appear directly in the bladder are also not uncommon. However, they are less common than kidney stones themselves. The fact is that if the stones originate in the bladder, distinguishing by the place of their formation makes sense - after all, the kidneys do not need to be treated, since they are not affected. If stones occur in the kidneys, this process will in any case affect the ureters, bladder, and urethra. In this case, the entire urinary system will still have to be treated. And the location of the main process, as we understand, will lose part of its significance due to this.

So, if we have kidney stones, we will also have stones in our bladder. If not, putting an “and” between these two words is not entirely correct. Urolithiasis can begin in our various reasons. However, the symptoms, main stages of development and results are always the same. The difference is that, depending on the cause and location of its action, it will spread faster or slower. Accordingly, this creates a certain difference in the severity and variety of symptoms of the initial stage.

For example, we understand that a kidney stone, if it is immobile (there is only one, it is too large, etc.), may not make itself felt for quite a long time. And the parts below urinary system(ureters, bladder, urethra) will not be affected by its presence. In such a scenario, all that we can feel in the first ten years from the moment of its appearance is limited to periodic renal colic. And then only after drinking heavily or driving on a bumpy road. For a long time these spontaneous “diseases” from the kidneys will go away on their own, quickly, without a trace and for a long time. The stone will grow, and, of course, in the end we will still end up on the operating table. It's just that no one knows when this will happen.

Another thing is small, moving stones or sand in general. Neoplasms of this type always give symptoms early. And these symptoms are so pronounced that they literally force the patient to seek help. Small stones and sand, which regularly leave the kidneys with urine flow, cause the development of secondary inflammation throughout the urinary system within months - a maximum of six months. We can be sure that kidney stones in combination with cystitis, as well as blood and visible sediment in the urine cannot be missed.

Symptoms and signs of kidney and bladder stones

So, with a stationary stone (as a rule, it is single and large), we can easily not even guess about its presence. In any case, signs of its presence are almost always weak, appear rarely and do not cause concern. Such a stone is often discovered by chance, during ultrasound or x-ray examination kidney area for other patient complaints. Of course, a “quiet” stone feels more pleasant than small and mobile new formations. However, this is just a feeling.

As we just said, it grows slowly but steadily as long as we live with it. At one point, it will block the flow of urine from the kidney into the ureter, and this is inevitable. You won't know when this will happen either. But this can happen in any circumstances. Including on a picnic far outside the city. Or on sea ​​coast, where the nearest hospital is tens of kilometers away...

The fact is that excreted urine will quickly begin to accumulate in the kidney. This will cause acute pain, rapid development renal failure. Especially in such cases, those who are not doing well, so to speak, with their second kidney are unlucky. For example, if it also contains a stone or stones, inflammation, or other malfunctions.

If the second kidney is healthy, the patient's prognosis for acute blockage will not be so bad. In particular, he will have enough time to get to the hospital. And the kidney will probably be saved. But if there are also problems with the paired kidney, an increase in the load on it due to the failure of the “neighbor” will lead to an equally rapid stop of urination altogether. Then the patient will have no more than a day for all procedures - no more than a day to restore the functioning of the excretory system or undergo at least one dialysis procedure. Poisoning the body with nitrogenous decomposition products will not allow it to survive for more than 24 hours.

So “quiet” stones are good only if we, so to speak, breathe unevenly to any surprises, including unpleasant ones that threaten our lives. Depending on the type of stone, the degree of its mobility and size, we will suffer stronger and more often or weaker and less often. For example, phosphate stones have a smooth surface, while urates and oxalates, on the contrary, have an uneven surface, often covered with thorns. As we understand, the sensations when some stones come out will also be very different for us... Sand gives the least pronounced colic, although it is also unpleasant, as it feels. In addition, sand of any type is annoying urinary tract no less than stones.

In a word, a characteristic symptom of urolithiasis is renal colic. She gasps every time the stone moves or tries to leave the kidney. Naturally, the ureter, through which an “unformatted” object passes, undergoes multiple spasms. The pain with colic is acute, cramping, shooting. It is often confused with manifestations of lumbar osteochondrosis. However, they can be distinguished by the result. After all, after several days of attacks of pain, the stone will probably either come out or get stuck. In the first case we will see him, in the second we will end up on the operating table, which will also be very noticeable.

During such an exacerbation, sand usually comes out in abundance along with the stone. It forms a hard, visible sediment in the urine - if it is allowed to stand, of course. Injuries and irritations accompanying the process cause inflammation. More precisely, as a rule, an exacerbation of existing inflammation of the urinary tract and its spread to other areas. Therefore, the release of stone and sand is often accompanied by cold sweat, pale skin and other signs painful shock in combination with renal failure. But over the next few days, the patient’s body temperature rises and a febrile state may occur.

As already mentioned, sand, as a rule, is combined with stones, but can also be present separately - especially in the initial stages of the disease. In any case, one does not exclude the other here, but rather complements it. Both the passage of stone and the separation of sand are accompanied by signs of inflammation and irritation of the urinary tract. Even if the colic is over, we will continue to feel a burning sensation and dull, aching pain when urinating. Since stone injury to the tissues of the kidney itself, as well as the mucous membranes of the urinary tract, is accompanied by inflammation, a high content of leukocytes and a significant admixture of blood are often found in the urine of a patient with urolithiasis.

Thus, small stones and sand, of course, are much more painful in the current than single and inactive stones. However, the long-term consequences of the formation of both large and small stones are the same. With urolithiasis, the kidney and/or ureters, bladder, and urethra inevitably undergo regular, more or less serious damage. Meanwhile, it is clear that the urinary system is in close contact with the external environment, which is already full of pathogens of various pathologies. In addition, it also has a slightly more indirect, but also very real connection (simply by location) with the reproductive system.

For the external genitalia, the presence of its own microflora on the skin is a necessary condition. And even normally, not all of this microflora is so harmless to other tissues. Injuries to the mucous membranes of the urinary system are fraught with the fact that they, in fact, “open the gate” for the spread of pathogens to its tissues. Moreover, the tissues are no longer external (the mucous membrane, if it is intact, can cope with the problem), but rather those that lie deeper. In the urinary system normal conditions It has its own mechanism of protection against external invasions. It is based on urine.

Firstly, its normal environment is slightly acidic, and not all pathogens survive in such environments.

Secondly, its current has the opposite direction to the spread of infection in order to physically wash the pathogen bodies back out. But in the case of inflammation (while traumatic - aseptic) of the urinary tract, the balance of this fluid easily shifts to the alkaline side. This effect is achieved by the increased content of proteins in it - they disintegrate directly in the urine, causing an alkalization reaction. And an alkaline environment, as we understand, promises the pathogen much more comfortable conditions for reproduction. Therefore, secondary infection in urolithiasis is a very common phenomenon. And even without her...

Inflammation is inflammation, be it infectious or aseptic. If its source arose in one part of a single system, we can be sure that it will quickly spread above and below it. Therefore, even if the stones initially arose not in the kidneys, but in the bladder, after the onset of cystitis, nephritis for us becomes only a matter of time.

Causes of kidney and bladder stones

The easiest way to identify them is by the composition of the stones. It all depends on their type. It is not always possible to independently distinguish one stone from another - at least based on one episode. In several cases this can be done more accurately. As mentioned above, urate, which occurs during gout, has a brick- or blood-red color. However, sometimes yellow urates are also found. One way or another, the range of their colors is limited to shades of red, and this applies to both stones and sand. Another feature unique to urates is the ability of several individual stones to merge, forming something like a bunch of grapes. In addition, let us remind you that gout has other signs - from the joints.

Phosphate stones are also smooth, light gray or even white. Their distinctive feature is the ability to crumble easily after drying. Oxalates are also easy to recognize - their surface is lumpy, rough, sometimes covered with visible growths. They do not look like an anti-tank hedgehog, but their movement along the urinary tract brings little joy. Their color is brown or gray; in appearance, oxalates resemble pieces of ordinary crushed stone.

Precisely because oxalates, more than other stones, injure all tissues with which they come into contact, their formation is accompanied by the most pronounced inflammation. Therefore, they often quickly become overgrown with phosphorus deposits, forming a mixed oxalate-phosphate stone. The reason for the pattern is simple: phosphate stones form more often and more readily than others precisely at the site of inflammation - where the urine balance is strongly shifted towards the alkaline side. They are a direct product of its alkalization reaction. That is why phosphate layers are present in the vast majority of stones, except, perhaps, urates. Phosphate inclusions are equally often found in both oxalates and calcium, organic stones.

As for organic stones, usually the organic base itself makes up their core. These can be bacteria, blood proteins, sometimes even helminths and their larvae, etc. And around this foreign object a capsule of solid salts grows.

In most cases, organic stones appear to be phosphate - just with an organic core. But they may also contain layers - calcium inclusions, for example. So organic stones do not have their own characteristics - they always look like the stone with which they are overgrown. Cholesterol stones form in the gallbladder and are made of bile. That's why they are dark - black, dark brown, reminiscent of baked feces. They cannot be called soft to the touch, but they still have a special texture - as if not stone. Cholesterol stones are often formed with the participation of calcium salts.

As we just said, the most common stones are phosphates and mixed ones. They are found in more than half of all cases of urolithiasis. And they arise where inflammation occurs - subtle, chronic. In general, the inflammatory process is the optimal and most common condition for the appearance of any stones in any organ. This applies to the liver, gall bladder, and salivary glands, and to the sinuses... Actually, the same is the interdependence between periodontal disease and tartar.

These two factors (inflammation and stone) are always mutually determined. Septic or aseptic inflammation changes the local environment and creates unnecessary elements in it, triggering the growth of the stone. And from that moment on, the stone itself begins to irritate the surrounding tissues, maintaining and developing causative inflammation. The exception is only two cases out of many. Namely, oxalates and urates. An inflammatory process cannot be the root cause of their appearance - only a metabolic disorder can. So the inflammation caused by them is always secondary.

The second important point in the development of urolithiasis can be, oddly enough, our gender. We have already mentioned in passing above that women are more prone to urolithiasis and cholelithiasis. In particular, to the appearance of stones based on calcium and cholesterol. At the same time, they are more likely to suffer from osteoporosis - especially after menopause. The reasons for this difference are not difficult to guess: calcium metabolism and its intensity directly depend on how important the entire body considers it important to maintain bones in good condition. And how important their growth, development, renewal is to him.

The weaker sex is weak only in one sense - in the sense physical development, and even then not always. In any case, the female body is initially “adjusted” to be less resistant to physical stress than the male body. If desired, this can be easily corrected, but nature itself provided everything exactly this way. And therefore, there can be only one field for the active consumption of calcium and cholesterol in the body of an adult woman. Namely, both of these elements will be required by her body in huge quantities during pregnancy. But we see where the problem lies, don’t we? Yes, the point is that pregnancy is a periodic condition, but life is constant.

Women with several children suffer from cholelithiasis and urolithiasis more often and more severely than those who are childless or have limited themselves to one child. And this is due to the fact that in the body of a mother with many children, sharp fluctuations in the rate of calcium metabolism occurred several times. Simply put, her body has already taken into account that the situation may repeat itself and has taken appropriate measures. During periods when pregnancy does not occur, he tends to store substances that he does not yet need. And as we understand, there is no separate storage for them, unlike carbohydrates, in the body.

In general, gender significantly influences the incidence of stones and the specific course of this pathology. Well, the third reason for its development is often the peculiarities of our diet. What is metabolism essentially? This is a chain of chemical reactions to convert one substance into another. Moreover, at different stages, each reaction also occurs with the participation of a third substance - a catalyst. And the catalysts, of course, change depending on what was formed at the previous stage of transformation. Even if we don’t know chemistry at all, we must understand: the same set of substances always takes part in every reaction. In some cases, their proportion is no less important than the very fact of the presence of all substances in the “set”. In other words, if the body does not have any substances for the reaction or their proportion is changed, the reaction either will not occur or will occur with an error.

All this leads us to the fact that normal metabolism and good nutrition are not just interconnected - one does not exist without the other, cannot exist. Meanwhile, we know so little about this that we consider it self-evident and even useful to break this rule every day.

For example, who among us does not know that strain C strengthens antiviral immunity? In general, to some extent this is true. But not nearly as much as we used to think. Vitamin C is no more useful in this matter than any other. Moreover: if we eat only it, we will not get anything except stomach or intestinal ulcers. After all, for effective conversion, vitamin C needs so much that we cannot even imagine...

Another option from a series of “everyday misconceptions” is special power systems. As we ourselves know, even if they are not a tape, they entirely contain certain restrictions. In fact, these restrictions are what make them special. Vegetarianism requires eliminating animal products from the diet. Raw foodism, in fact, quickly turns into almost vegetarianism, since we, people who are no longer Stone Age, simply do not like the taste of raw meat. In addition, raw meat creates serious difficulties for most stomachs in digesting it. In a word, it is not surprising that with the transition to this system people quickly lose weight. They simply begin to eat less and less, because you can’t eat a lot of raw food - you don’t want to...

The situation is exactly the same with separate nutrition, nutrition according to blood type, kilocalories, etc. In essence, they all create a more or less strict, more or less definite system of restrictions on certain products, their quantity, and their combination. In addition to such “integral” systems, we often encounter individual bans - on coffee, chocolate, tea, confectionery, etc., etc.

It is usually simply impossible to understand the meaning of all these recommendations - they are meaningless by definition, from the very beginning. Whatever well-known “harmful” product we take, in reality we will definitely find that others simply need it, and the harm from its use has nothing to do with it. However, how proud we are of ourselves when we find the strength to refuse a cup of coffee, a cigarette, a piece of chocolate!..

There are a myriad of myths about the benefits and harms of various foods, methods of their culinary processing and our eating habits. And none of them are the absolute truth—the truth that benefits everyone. That is, someone might not want to drink coffee - if we already have angina or have had a heart attack, this is probably not the best idea. But if we were born with a slight deviation towards slowing down metabolic processes, without coffee we will constantly gain weight and “sleep on the go.” By the way, it will never lead us to a heart attack, even though we drink liters of it.

Yes, there are a lot of myths, but the truth is that the number of them does not change. And it consists in the fact that each component of the product. which seems edible to us probably has nutritional value. That is, it takes part in chemical metabolic reactions. From the point of view of the body, there is no room for exceptions. Or rather, there is, -to all of them relate to products that seem inedible to us. And the blame for intermediate options (which do not represent the nutritional value of a “counterfeit” of a real product) lies entirely with us - with the civilization of which we are a part.

Of course, we have simplified this argument too much. We forgot to mention many cases when someone is indeed prohibited from doing something. For example, like coffee if you have heart problems. Likewise, no one would recommend products containing oxalic acid to a patient with oxalate stones - that would be pure madness. Moreover, we have forgotten about the whole array of cases when those least accustomed among us to deny our appetite also gain excess weight at a record speed. And for some reason this habit of satisfying hunger immediately and completely does not make them healthier.

All these particulars are also a kind of truth. But it is peculiar because it does not concern everyone, but only a few for whom, as they say, it just so happened. As long as our heart, stomach, kidneys, and other organs are healthy, there is no reason for us to think about what we will eat when they get sick. While we are healthy, we think about how to maintain this health - and that’s not always the case, is it? And at moments of such reflection, it occurs to us for some reason not to bring what we consider tasty into balance with what is undoubtedly healthy... We think about what tasty things to give up so that we have to eat or do less useful. And it is precisely this part that is incorrect here - our train of thought, our understanding of the laws of proper and improper nutrition.

Let's say right away and honestly: lovers of a vegetarian diet and diets with varying degrees of severity of restrictions suffer from stones in certain organs much more often than those who eat well. But at the same time, we should not forget that it is complete, and not every time with the same set of products, only prepared differently. No specific product causes stones to appear. None, except consumed in quantities that exceed any needs and capabilities of the body.

By our will, this often happens with cholesterol and proteins. Against this, phosphorus usually enters the body (which means the question of its balance with calcium) and other inorganic compounds arise. The latter occurs if we live in a region where the soil and/or water contain an abnormally large amount of elements that can disrupt metabolism or become the basis for stone growth. By the way, if the topic has already awakened our curiosity, it will be useful for us to know that it is not always limited only to the question of how hard or soft the water flows through the pipes from which we drink water. The development of urolithiasis is often caused by elements that are simply atypical - radioactive, which have become the product of unsuccessful chemical synthesis (entering into the wrong reactions), obtained through nanotechnology.

In addition to inflammation of various etiologies and the characteristics of our diet, the proportion between consumption and consumption of various substances plays an important role in the development of urolithiasis. A proportion that remains with us throughout most of our lives. As we understand, everything that enters the body must be used for biological needs. And not all of these needs appear to him by themselves, without our participation. We've probably heard before that the secret to the rapid spread diabetes mellitus and obesity in the world lies not only in the ability of diabetes to be fixed at the gene level. Obesity is not exactly fixed in DNA, and the number of people suffering from it is also growing steadily.

Yes, in our time there is no cure for diabetes mellitus, but it is compensated for with great success. Until injectable insulin existed, patients with this diagnosis often died before having offspring and, therefore, passing on their pathology to their children. Nowadays you still have to manage to die from diabetes... And this, of course, does not affect the increase in the number of patients with congenital diabetes mellitus for the better.

However, there is also another relationship - excess weight also leads to the development of glucose metabolism disorders, since fat tissue cells produce substances that inhibit insulin. A fat people there are more and more of them on the planet. Actually, against this background, all the above methods of maintaining normal weight grow like mushrooms after rain.

There is a relationship between diabetes and obesity - we're talking about about an already proven scientific fact. It remains to be seen where obesity comes from in our world. Of course, we ourselves can guess - the word “physical inactivity” has long become as familiar to us as “salt deposition.” This relationship has also been explained to us more than a dozen times. As mentioned above, the body spends everything that enters it for biological needs. What exactly are these needs? I mean, what needs could he have if he sits all day either in a work chair, or in a home chair, or sleeps in bed? Indeed, only the most necessary - thinking, the nominal speed of blood flow, the rudiments of motor coordination...

From a biological point of view, the human body is designed not only for thinking, but also for physical activity. Just one type of activity, no matter what we choose, is not the optimal pastime for him. To correctly determine his needs and the operation of all systems that satisfy them, he absolutely needs to alternate physical activity with mental activity.

The entire metabolic rate depends on the level of our activity - at any stage, no matter what substance you take. When we run, as well as when we are nervous, our pulse quickens, our body temperature rises, and our muscle tone increases. And the difference between these two conditions is that under stress, the brain orders the metabolic system to speed up its work, since it does not know how circumstances will turn out in the next moment. But since most of the stress in our lives does not affect physical actions, we will assume that the nervous acceleration of metabolism is almost “idle” tension.

The main consumers of most body substances are the brain and muscles. The first is because it is his orders that all the organs of the body obey, and its uninterrupted, correct work cannot be overestimated. And the second - because there is more tissue of this type in the body in a direct, quantitative ratio. And if we compare the volumes in which the cerebral cortex and developed muscles consume nutrients, the palm will in any case have to be given to the muscles. Again, because there are much more of them, and their needs during active work are much higher than those of the brain.

So, as we see, the body has some needs regardless of whether we are sitting, running or lying down. This is the need of the thyroid gland for iodine, of all organs and the cerebral cortex for a certain minimum background of glucose in the blood... But these needs at rest are greatly reduced. And the percentage of food that we eat daily, even on a normal diet, more than covers them - with a fair amount of reserve, which is deposited on our stomach, buttocks, torso or waist. The brain especially needs, in essence, only sugar and hormones that regulate the activity of the cortex. To produce hormones, naturally, proteins are consumed, therefore, we will assume that he needs proteins, albeit indirectly.

But muscles need all the proteins of the body, cholesterol, glucose, vitamins, hormones, and high-quality blood supply to work and recover after it. Because when the cortex works even to the limit, its cells die infrequently, in very small quantities. Muscles working to the limit lose cells in the thousands and millions. But they can afford not such losses, since these neurons divide extremely rarely, in exceptional cases. Muscle cells, unlike nerve cells, divide whenever possible, willingly, with a known percentage of growth - in place of one dead cell, 2-3 new ones necessarily appear.

You can clearly see at what speed and with what success the muscle fiber increases in volume at any time, either by your own example or by someone else’s. If muscles did not grow, such a sport as bodybuilding would not exist. But the brain does not increase in volume from work. And people with large brains are not always smarter than others. Much more often it turns out that they, on the contrary, have a brain with less tissue than usual. And their large skull is explained by hydrocephalus (cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the ventricles of the brain) or rickets suffered in childhood.

And all this leads to the fact that we can and should stimulate many of the body’s needs ourselves. And many fundamentally significant parts of metabolism will be regulated either by us or, so to speak, by no one. After all, our brain, no matter how wide its capabilities, is by no means omnipotent. For example, above we had the opportunity to complain about the abundance of phosphates in the everyday life around us - an abundance, the appearance of which no one warned us about. Is it about that? Is it so often said in the media that phosphoric acid salts serve as an excellent substitute for fish? No. And we could very well not even suspect it. And since excess phosphorus itself triggers the leaching of calcium from the bones, we should not be surprised by calcium stones in the kidneys and gall bladder.

Yes, as we age, our need for calcium decreases as our bones stop growing. And an increase in phosphorus intake, it turns out, again increases this need. The brain, under the conditions in which we placed it, made its decision. Its consequences were an increase in the fragility of bones and at the same time the appearance of stones where they do not belong. The question arises: could we consciously, using our own knowledge, take more constructive steps? The answer to this is yes, it’s quite possible to turn a good half of the harm that phosphates are currently causing to us to your advantage. Moreover, in just a couple of months.

To do this, we only need to slightly stimulate the development of the musculoskeletal system. Let's say, start jogging in the morning, sign up for a swimming pool or fitness club... Moderate, strictly dosed loads on the skeleton and joints will trigger a strengthening response in them. This will immediately create a field for the consumption of excess phosphorus and stop the process of calcium excretion. It is likely that with them the age-related destruction of our teeth, and especially the periosteum, will stop. In a word, something that creates a noticeable and annoying for many people who are not yet old cosmetic defect. At the same time, this example well reflects the difference between the work various departments brain. In this case, between the principles that its automatic regulatory system (called limbic) uses and what the cortex is capable of if it is given a task consciously...

Thus, urolithiasis is, of course, a polyetiological disease. And this term means, in essence, that medicine cannot always say exactly where they came from and how we can now get rid of this dubious joy. It is not to the credit of medicine that it really often cannot accurately establish the cause or causes of many disorders. It’s just that there is a reason to throw the same stone into our, so to speak, garden. This stone looks like this: medicine gets confused about the causes when too many of them are discovered, and some of them are interconnected. The question arises: where would such a number of particularly unfavorable circumstances come from in our personal lives?.. It is quite obvious that we added the lion’s share of the items to the list of reasons ourselves, with our own hands. And it is precisely this fact that serves as the basis for considering our personal, and not someone else’s, mistakes as one of the most common, most influential factors in the development of this disease.

Treatment of kidney and bladder stones

As we saw above, simply balancing your diet so as not to create a disease with your own hands is not so easy. It turned out that we, successful and modern people, we often don’t think about basic things. In particular, over how much it weighs when cooked at home full lunch and what, given this volume, is its true nutritional value. We rejoice in our appetite and excellent digestion with zero activity, not realizing that this is more an anomaly than a reason to be proud of ourselves. We are sure that for an omnivore, a diet based on the principle “the more vegetables, the better” is ideal. And at the same time we are afraid like fire of completely natural ones, simple substances like caffeine or theanine, fearing that they might be much more harmful.

Yes, we have enough difficult problems at work and in the family. And we are sure that if we add to them the counting of bread units, the dosage of portions, the schedule for taking supplements, they will take away our last joy. Namely, the opportunity to simply eat what you want, in the quantity you want. We quite sincerely want someone else, less busy and smarter, to make at least some of the necessary decisions for us. And relieved our already overloaded cortex from all these details...

In general, constantly reminding yourself of necessity instead of desire really spoils the appetite of many. But while we are talking about prevention, we do not have to follow these rules every day. It’s just that in this case it’s important not to turn the “breaks” themselves into a rule. The main thing for us is to find a form of maintaining nutritional balance that, while prolonging our life, does not at the same time poison every moment of it.

A collection of strict rules is treatment - therapeutic measures aimed at eliminating or compensating for an already fully developed pathology. And even after taking care of the state of our metabolism in a timely manner, even after taking all the measures in our power, we must understand that they do not guarantee us complete safety. Indeed, in addition to our own mistakes, there are also such “misunderstandings” as concomitant diseases, really very significant features and circumstances of our life path. 1sometimes their influence is so strong that no amount of self-care, even the most thorough one, can protect you from it.

Much in our lives seems more like an inevitability than a simple threat. We can’t deal with many facts of reality in any way! Moreover, it is quite likely that all the measures we have taken above will only partially compensate for the damage caused by life itself, or even have no effect on it at all.

Medical treatment of kidney and bladder stones

That’s why we don’t need to get acquainted with the prospects for the onset of urolithiasis and its treatment. It must be said that in general we don’t have to worry too much about this. Yes, people once died from it, and they died often, a painful death. This happened after acute blockage of the urinary tract or due to kidney failure caused by long-term presence of stones and sand in these organs. Now, timely, regular disposal of both (say, as they are formed) will allow us to live the same way as before. That is, without any particular inconvenience, although not without some damage to our comfort.

Regardless of what our stones are made of and what process led to their appearance, removing them is not difficult in modern conditions. Making sure they don't arise again is much more difficult. If we know about the risk of their occurrence (such factors exist in the life of every person), it would be nice for us to be especially conscious. And make it a rule to undergo ultrasound examinations regularly, and not on special, rare cases when we are completely unbearable. Ultrasound is not a safe method in all aspects, but in most of them. And it detects such new formations with very high accuracy - even if the stones are more like sand.

So, if there are at least two or three serious risk factors in our life, it won’t hurt us to visit a urologist at least once a year. This is important because the sooner a new stone is identified, the easier it will be to remove it. And so less likely the sudden start of his movement. As we remember, the idea of ​​leaving the body can, so to speak, visit the stone at any moment, under the influence of a lot of factors. Everything would be fine, but this “journey” does not always go well, not with all kinds of stones. In addition, it is characterized by severe pain and complications on the organs that are subject to injury.

Meanwhile, there are now many ways to remove stones more easily and safely. Currently, surgery for urolithiasis is performed in in the rarest cases- neglected, complicated, when any other help is long overdue. These are cases of rare persistence on the part of the client. Cases where, by a strange coincidence, he either really did not notice the obvious, or ignored his problem with stoicism worthy of better use.

For example, a stone or stones are usually removed along with the kidney. This occurs when a patient is admitted to the hospital with signs of kidney failure and acute blockage. And during the examination, the doctor reveals one stone that actually got stuck recently - the one that became the reason for going to the hospital. And the kidney, which had long ago turned into a shell of connective tissue, inside of which, as if in a bag, only a few large stones and urine remained. In other words, in cases where one kidney has long been non-functional, because its filtering tissue (parenchyma) has been replaced by stones. But the patient managed not to notice the loss of one organ because the paired organ worked for two for a long time. Not without interruptions and alarming symptoms, but it still worked.

Yes, if there is nothing left of an organ or part of the tissue of the urinary system that would make sense to preserve, the doctor will also not be able to offer anything other than surgery. In what cases is removal of a kidney, bladder, part of tissue or ureters/urethra indicated? In essence, the same as everywhere else when talking about any other organs.

Namely:

1. In the presence of foci of purulent decay and necrosis, which can be either malignant or the result of infection.
2. If there are signs of a malignant process in the tissues. In the case of the kidney, it will be completely removed, regardless of the location of the tumor. Including if it was not she herself who underwent degeneration, but her adrenal gland.
3. In the presence of neoplasms that are benign or of unknown etiology, but large enough to be considered as a mechanical obstruction.
4. In case when the stone comes out, very serious injuries are caused to the tissues.

As a rule, out of two kidneys, only one definitely needs to be removed. But it is no secret that long-term lack of improvement during urolithiasis or its complications gradually lead to degeneration of both kidneys. It’s just that the rate at which they fail is usually not the same. However, depending on your luck... In any case, if one kidney is preserved and functional, there is no need to replace the second one. However, if there are signs of failure in it, the patient is prescribed hemodialysis procedures - with a certain frequency, strictly according to the schedule. Dialysis and artificial kidney- it's almost the same thing. The only difference is the frequency of the same procedure. Hemodialysis as an auxiliary measure is carried out no more than 2 times a week, and an artificial kidney is the same as dialysis, only every other day.

But parts such as the ureters, bladder, and urethra must be replaced with prosthetics after removal of a non-functional or severely damaged part. Sometimes good results are achieved by installing something like an indwelling catheter made of polymers specially created for this purpose. But the method of prosthetics greatly depends on the volume of tissue removed.

A catheter that is too large, no matter how well its material imitates the properties of living tissue, is usually undesirable because wearing it quickly leads to complications. As a rule, constant inflammatory processes at the junction of its edge with the tissues of the urethra or ureter:. And also to the deposition of salts on its walls, irritation of surrounding tissues - including mechanical and chemical. Therefore, an option for restoring the patency of the urinary tract after surgery is their plastic surgery using the body’s own tissues taken from other areas.

If the bladder wall is at risk of removal, the situation becomes somewhat more complicated. In general, cases where the bladder is completely removed are not as rare as we would like. This can happen as a result of long-term infectious cystitis, cholecystitis (gallstones in the bladder), cystitis caused by bladder cancer or urolithiasis. In addition, some pathologies of the muscular or mucous layer of the bladder are congenital and even autoimmune.

So there are plenty of options here. The main difficulty is that the bladder is formed by muscle, not connective tissue. Meanwhile, not a single, even the most organic material for prosthetics has the main property of muscle fiber - the ability to contract and relax. This is the problem with any indwelling catheters in the urethra and ureters. And for the same reason, it is so difficult for doctors to find a complete replacement for their own bladder tissue. This body prosthetics, creating a new section in the tissues of the rectum - as a rule, in its ampulla. However, in the last few years there has been active development of technology for laboratory cultivation of tissue similar in its properties to the muscular wall of the bladder.

Well, until we see the indications for surgery, we will be offered to remove the stones in some less traumatic way. Currently, medical rules adopted in the treatment of urolithiasis prescribe the removal of all neoplasms with a diameter of more than 5 mm. Because, as it turned out experimentally, larger stones can sometimes come out on their own. However, this process is associated with increased risks of both injury and blockage.

Among the methods of “stimulating” stones; so to speak, the method of shock wave crushing has gained the greatest popularity in the near future. Scientific name We won’t remember the method right away, because it sounds like “extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.” Medicine has not yet clarified all the long-term consequences of its periodic use (for relapses of urolithiasis). But as a one-time measure, it is definitely safe and completely non-traumatic.

The essence of the method is simple: a device emitting sound waves of various frequencies is directed at a stone located anywhere in the urinary tract, including the kidneys. For stones with different compositions, waves of different ranges are used. There are not so many stones in the world that are resistant to all ranges. Most often, gallstones demonstrate such resistance. From others, more or less small fragments remain, and sometimes even sand. Then these fragments come out on their own within a few days, with a stream of urine. If there are serious reasons, the doctor may, at his discretion, admit the patient to the hospital for the period of sand release in order to observe the process. But if the situation is not complicated in any way, after the operation the patient is often discharged with detailed recommendations what to do in the coming days.

Of course, possible complications from this procedure exactly repeat the list of complications from spontaneous stone passage. The fragment may sometimes be too large or sharp. And somewhere along the urinary tract there are often mechanical obstructions - scars and strictures from past episodes, tumors, adenoma in men, swelling due to inflammation. Naturally, they cannot be called a reason for surgery, and they can create serious troubles. In such cases, the patient is advised to undergo constant observation until all fragments are released.

If a blockage occurs, we will again end up in the surgical department, but, again, not to remove the kidney - there is no need to worry ahead of time. For all cases where lithotripsy does not live up to the doctor’s expectations, there are special preparations designed to chemically break down stones. This type of procedure is called percutaneous nephrostomy. With it, you still have to make an incision - a small one, sufficient to install something similar to an IV or shunt. A solution effective against this type of stone is subsequently supplied through this shunt. In addition, with its help it is very convenient to rinse the target area directly with antibiotic solutions - for example, to eliminate sepsis or aseptic inflammation after irritation with a stone.

Is it worth treating urolithiasis with any methods other than their removal followed by anti-inflammatory therapy? This is a good question. As mentioned above, stones are most often caused by inflammation. And the already formed stone itself begins to irritate the surrounding tissues, supporting and intensifying the initial inflammatory process. In other words, if we only have inflammation so far, we should expect stones or sand in the near future, with all reason. And all attempts to relieve inflammation, when the stone has already appeared and does not intend to move from its place, are doomed to failure in advance.

Here's a pattern... In urology, it is generally accepted that single and small stones that appear for the first time can pass out on their own if they get a little help. In particular, conduct a course of antibiotic therapy to suppress sepsis. And at the same time a short course of sedatives or antispasmodics. Together, they will noticeably expand the internal space of the urinary ducts and give the stone a chance to leave the body in the near future. Therefore, conservative therapy for urolithiasis itself exists and is used separately from attempts to influence stones directly. It’s just that most cases do not allow it to be used separately and require an integrated approach.

Alternative treatment for kidney and bladder stones

In this regard, it is most appropriate for us to consider that removing stones without the help of a doctor or by other means other than surgical ones is pure madness. It will be good if we do not say goodbye to individual parts of the urinary system. Parts for which we will have a reason to cry, and more than one... We must remember that stone is a new formation that is quite dense and chemically resistant. That is, enough for such harmless means, like herbal decoctions or mineral water.

Yes, water with a certain acid-base balance (acidic or alkaline) helps slow down the formation of new stones of the corresponding type. But for this it is necessary that the main reason for their appearance be local or general disorder. That is, either oxidation of urine as a result of a malfunction in the metabolic system of some acids (uric, oxalic), or a local imbalance of the environment. Let's say, alkalization of urine due to local inflammation. If our stones are not explained by any of the above mechanisms, drinking mineral water or not is a matter of personal taste. This is still unlikely to affect the course of the pathology.

Mineral water with any balance and composition does not have the ability to reduce or completely dissolve already formed stones - not even by a millimeter, no matter how much we drink. This is a myth, another amateur interpretation. She tries to explain cases when a doctor prescribes this or that mineral water to a patient, omitting comments on why he made such a decision. It is in the place of comments not provided by a specialist that free interpretations of this kind appear.

Let us repeat: there are now plenty of legends about the supposed omnipotence of remedies from the “natural pharmacy”. But the fact remains: at a time when medicine had only such means at its disposal, urolithiasis, cholelithiasis, gout, and diabetes mellitus were considered and were fatal diseases. Without the ability to forcibly remove the stone and extinguish infectious inflammation in the urinary tract, the medicine of the past could give its patients a prognosis only for the coming months, and no further.

All that herbs, warming and other measures of traditional medicine can do is to somewhat facilitate the passage of the stone and significantly reduce inflammation. But the latter concerns only and exclusively aseptic inflammations. That is, caused by a single injury from a stone, without the addition of an infection. A stone that is too large can be destroyed only with special means, and an infection can be extinguished only with antibiotics. There have never been any options here. Everything else is only suitable for prevention and during the recovery period after stone removal. But to remove them and get rid of colic, nothing else can wait for us.

If the natural limits of the effectiveness of non-traditional remedies are clear to us, we will analyze what would be useful for us to use as conservative therapy. That is, against small or single stones, and also after removing large stones.

Let's start with the simplest:

1. If an attack of colic takes us by surprise (this always happens, with rare exceptions) or it is very strong, it is better for us to take some kind of antispasmodic. For example, “No-shpa” will do, or, if we have the skill, we can do intramuscular injection 5 ml of baralgin solution.
2. Spasm usually depends on the intensity of the pain as much as on the force of contraction of the muscles of the ureter, urethra, etc. Therefore, to relieve pain, you can take any of the available, non-specialized painkillers - “Ibu-profen”, “Solpadein”, “Ketanov”, etc. .
3. If we have urinary retention, we may be doing ourselves a disservice if we overdo it with medication. In this case, it is more reasonable to try to influence the pain and spasm with a hot heating pad - on the kidney area, from the back, for no more than 20 minutes.
4. In case of renal colic without urinary retention, the liquid should be drunk generously, achieving an increase in its separation. Perhaps a more intense current will help remove the stone. If there is a complete blockage of the urinary duct (urine is excreted sparingly, swelling of the legs has begun, “bags” have appeared under the eyes and It's a dull pain in the kidneys), on the contrary, it is better not to drink water. In any case, you should not drink more than 1 glass per hour.
5. After discovering phosphate stones, we need to switch to a diet that is exactly the opposite of vegetarian. And limit vegetables - especially fresh ones. Our task from now on and for the rest of our lives is to maintain the acidic balance of urine, since its alkaline environment promotes their relapse and accelerates growth. The easiest way to do this is to start drinking juices and other sour-tasting drinks after every meal. For example, fruit drinks, fresh citrus fruits, a solution of 2 tbsp. spoons of vinegar (preferably homemade or high-quality) per 1 glass of warm water.
6. If we have had an oxalate episode, we should eliminate foods high in oxalic acid from our diet once and for all. Typically, all foods and drinks with a sour taste contain it in varying quantities, including sour berries, citrus fruits, etc. In a word, oxalic acid is contained in more than one sorrel, and you need to remember this. Traditionally, the list of “foods non grata” includes sorrel, spinach, parsley, dill, asparagus, and cilantro. And also red and chokeberry, rose hips, lingonberries, blueberries, all citrus fruits. It would be nice if we started treating food acids more carefully - we would also give up carbonated foods and, in general, any products that contain the article “acidity regulators.” In fact, these are food acids. Now we have problems with mastering, in theory, only one of them. But practice shows that such an metabolic disorder affects not one, but several similar or identical reactions.
7. If there are calcium stones or inclusions of this kind in other types of stones, we should stop the leaching of calcium from the castes. As mentioned above, to begin with, it would be a good idea for us to stimulate it to fully assimilate bone - for example, by engaging in strengthening the skeleton through sports. Then it will be very good if we limit the intake of phosphates into the body - with food products in which they are present as a food additive. As a rule, these are all foaming drinks, whipped products (marshmallows, mousses), and meat and sausage products.

It must be remembered that food products themselves never provoke the leaching of calcium from bones - for this they need suitable conditions such as a sedentary lifestyle and excess phosphorus. But under these conditions, certain products can indeed speed up this process.

In other words, if we, as usual, point-blank avoid activity, believing this measure is too difficult, we need to know what else to avoid so as not to worsen the situation. Among the foods that accelerate the leaching of calcium or contain large quantities of it are coffee (especially instant), legumes, chocolate, milk and all dairy products. As well as whole grains of wheat, corn and oats.

Finally, the third thing we will have to do is to start rinsing clothes more thoroughly after washing and limiting the intake of fish. Of course, it will be very successful if we get used to washing dishes, floors, etc., wearing protective gloves. Or at least partially switch to phosphate-free personal and household hygiene products.

As for organic, cholesterol stones and urates, we have nothing to say about them in this section. We will discuss urates and cholesterol stones in detail further, when talking about the pathologies associated with them. But organic stones are a problem so large-scale or, on the contrary, one that arose by chance, that it cannot be solved by simple changes in habits on our part. Protein in the urine appears due to large-scale disorders of the blood composition or kidney failure. Organic stones are a big deal. Whatever the recommendations, only a doctor and no one else can give us recommendations on how to eliminate them. So it’s better for us not to discuss this topic on our own and not try to correct it - most attempts of this kind end quickly and badly.

A more complex issue is the restoration of the functioning and condition of the urinary tract after a “crisis”. Let us remind you that stones arise not only in the kidneys and not only due to metabolic disorders, sepsis... Often the cause of everything turns out to be another mechanical obstacle to the flow of urine - benign or malignant tumor tissues that form them. Or even a tumor of the organ adjacent to the urinary tract.

In women, this obstacle most often turns out to be a neoplasm in the rectum or uterus, and in men, it is prostate adenoma. In both sexes, internal hernias and tumors of the pelvic tissue can lead to the same effect. As well as a phenomenon called kidney prolapse or mobile kidney. With it, the kidney is able to move depending on body movements. It becomes mobile due to congenital or acquired disturbances in the structure of the connective and adipose tissue bag that holds and protects it normally. It is clear how one can be born with such a defect - for many reasons, some of which will be the fault of either the mother or an unfortunate combination of circumstances. And it is easy to get an anomaly in adult life due to injury to muscles or ligaments (especially the back). Or with excessive weight loss, which will certainly cause a critical decrease in the fat layer in the renal bursa, making it seem too loose.

In any scenario of kidney prolapse, the ureter leading to it often changes its position and loops appear on it. Under other circumstances, it can even twist. And all this, of course, greatly disrupts the normal outflow of urine from the mobile kidney and quickly leads to the development of secondary inflammation in it and the ureter itself. We remind you of this because without a doctor we cannot distinguish a blockage with a stone from a blockage with something else. But if it is not a stone, all our efforts will be in best case scenario useless, at worst (if the tumor is malignant) - also deadly.

Well, if the presence of stones has already been confirmed and proven, we will begin to eliminate the prospects for their growth, stuckness and, most importantly, relapse. As was said, we would like to make sure that there is no urinary tract infection. After all, inflammation caused by a pathogen will not be relieved by any remedy except an antibiotic designed to fight specifically this pathogen. But inflammation of traumatic etiology can easily be combated by a number of individual plants and collections from them.

Naturally, the location of the target process simply obliges us to opt for decoctions and other liquid forms of remedies. Compresses and other methods of influencing the skin are of no help to us here, unless the only thing we want to do is heat. The fact is that the entire urinary tract is located deep inside the pelvic tissues. The kidneys are located relatively close to the surface of the back, just below the lower back. However, as we just said, they are reliably protected and even isolated from outside influences by a rather thick layer of fat lining their capsule from the inside. And in total, this gives us almost complete uselessness of trying to apply compresses to them, etc. The result is that taking the products in liquid form will be much more effective.

So, here are a few recipes for decoctions used in the treatment of urolithiasis:

1. Let's take 2 tbsp. spoons of crushed dry leaves of birch, white and 1 tbsp. a spoonful of buds from the same tree, add baking soda on the tip of a knife. Mix everything, place in a thermos, pour in 1/2 cup of boiling water, close the lid and leave for 1 hour. Then strain and take 1/2 cup 3-4 times a day immediately before meals.
2. Take equal amounts of dry, crushed cornflower, licorice root and bearberry leaf. Mix everything, take 1 tbsp. Place a spoonful of the mixture in a thermos. Pour the mixture with 1 cup of boiling water, leave for 15-20 minutes and strain. Let's start taking the infusion 1 tbsp. spoon three times a day before meals.
3. Let's take 1 tbsp. Place a spoonful of dry crushed St. John's wort in an enamel bowl and pour in 1 cup of boiling water. Place the pan on low heat and let it boil. Cover with a lid and leave to cook for 10 minutes. Then remove from heat, let cool and strain. The decoction should be taken 3 glasses a day before meals.
4. Take washed, dry, crushed 2 tbsp. spoons of wheatgrass root, place in an enamel or glass container, pour in 1 glass cold water. Cover with a lid and leave to steep for 12 hours. Then pour this water into a separate bowl and pour 1 cup of boiling water over the roots again. Leave the second infusion for 10 minutes and strain it. Let's combine both infusions (cold and hot), take the mixture 1/2 cup three times a day before meals.

Of course, if we expect the stone to pass on its own, we can resort to diuretics. There are also many such plants in the world. However, before we start taking diuretics, we definitely need to make sure that we do not have a serious obstruction or interruption in the flow of urine. Otherwise, taking them will not lead to anything good.

So:

1. Let's take 1 tbsp. Place a spoonful of dry crushed cloudberry leaves in a thermos and pour in 1 cup of boiling water. Let it sit for half an hour, then strain. You need to take the infusion 1/4 cup 3 times a day after meals until the urge to urinate becomes more frequent.
2. Let's take 1 tbsp. a spoonful of fresh or dry knotweed grass (knotweed), cut with a sharp knife, place in an enamel bowl. Pour in 1 cup of boiling water, put on low heat, let it boil, leave for 10 minutes. Then remove from heat, let cool and strain. The decoction should be taken 1/4 cup 1 time per hour until the urge to urinate becomes more frequent.
3. Take dry, crushed, equal parts bearberry leaf, yarrow grass and knotweed grass. Then add succession grass in the amount of half the volume of any of the herbs already collected. Mix everything, place it in a thermos, pour in 1 glass of boiling water and leave for half an hour. Then we’ll strain it and take 1/2 cup 1 time every 2 hours until the urge becomes more frequent.
4. Let's take equal parts of dry horsetail grass, juniper fruits and birch buds. Mix everything, place it in a thermos, pour in 1 cup of boiling water and close the lid. Let it sit for half an hour and strain. Let's start taking the infusion 2 glasses 3 times a day after meals until the urge to urinate becomes more frequent.

• An effective way to cleanse your kidneys at home

Urolithiasis occurs more often in men, but the risk of the disease is also observed in obese women. Nephrolithiasis is the occurrence of stones in the urinary tract, within the renal pelvis, ureters, bladder or urethra. These deposits are deposited from chemicals contained in urine, in the presence of appropriate favorable conditions.

• Expert opinion: Today this is one of the most effective means in the treatment of kidney diseases. I have been using German drops in my practice for a long time...

There are several factors that contribute to the formation of gallstones in the bladder, these are:

• conditions associated with urinary stagnation;
• all urinary tract infections;
• dehydration;
• changing the optimal pH of urine;
• low magnesium concentration and the presence of so-called crystallization nuclei (for example, bacterial deposits).

Education mechanism

Human urine contains many dissolved substances, from which stones can form if their concentration is exceeded. Stones vary in their composition. Calcium oxalate stones make up about 85% of all stones. They form if a person has hypercalcemia, that is, an increased concentration of calcium in the blood, and hypercalciuria, that is, an increased concentration of calcium in the urine.
Stones from uric acid- this is approximately 5-10% of stones. They occur due to low urine pH, gout, and the use of certain medications. Stones made of apatite, that is, calcium phosphate, are about 10%. They occur in patients with renal urethral acidosis. Ammonium Manganese Phosphate Stones - 2 to 20% of stones are built from ammonium, magnesium and phosphate. They are typical for bacterial infections (for example Proteus, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Haemophilus). A general urine test almost always reveals leukocyturia and bacteriuria. Cystine stones - only 1% of all cases, occur in patients with genetic disorders of cystine transport. There is a decrease in the absorption of cystine in the intestines and kidneys, which leads to an increase in its concentration in the urine and to precipitation in the form of waste. For the formation of stones, so-called crystallization nuclei are required. The stone crystallizes around one core or several cores, they can connect. It may be that the crystallization core and the rest of the stone are composed of different components, for example the core is apatite and the rest is calcium oxalate.

Pathological manifestations

The risk of developing bladder stones increases with diseases such as:

• osteoporosis;
• gout;
• tumor formations;
• Crohn's disease;
• malabsorption syndrome.

Bladder stones can also develop after taking certain medications:

• vitamin D;
• large doses of vitamin C;
• Sulfonamide, Acetazolamide;
• antiviral drugs.

Stones can occur anywhere in the urinary tract, but most often they form in the kidneys, then move down through the ureters into the bladder. As a rule, if their diameter is small, they pass through the ureters and are finally expelled through the urethra. A larger stone may remain in the bladder, where it will gradually increase in size. The building block for stones in most cases is calcium phosphate or oxalate, much less often - uric acid compounds, cystine, xanthine.

Diagnosis of the disease

Bladder stones are usually diagnosed during an ultrasound scan abdominal cavity and small pelvis. The patient consults a doctor after he begins to experience signs of stones - painful colic in the kidneys. Other useful tests for making a diagnosis include pelvic x-rays, computed tomography and urography. In addition to detecting the stone itself, these studies will help determine its composition, which is important in prevention. The location of damage to the urinary tract or blockage of urine outflow with the formation of hydronephrosis is determined. This situation may be caused by a stone in the bladder that is blocking the opening of the ureter or urethra.
In addition, symptoms of bladder stones are observed: frequent urination in small portions, an intermittent stream, inflammation of the urinary tract, pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen, usually extending to the perineal area. If there are stones in the bladder, men may have problems with erections. Women and men experience pain when urinating. Blood may periodically appear in the urine, or it may take on a dark, cloudy color.

Therapeutic measures

If the stone is very small and is located in the area of ​​the urethral opening, the doctor recommends the use of diuretics so that the patient can independently remove the deposits from the body. If there is no natural expulsion through the urinary tract and the stone is stuck in the bladder, it must be removed mechanically. Today, surgical treatment is used, the most common practice for removing stones is a procedure using a cystoscope inserted through the urethra. During the operation, the patient is under the influence of short-term general anesthesia. Removal of stones from the bladder is carried out on an outpatient basis and lasts 20-30 minutes. The procedure cannot be used on pregnant women or people with bleeding disorders.

The stone is removed as a whole or crushed into smaller fragments.

Treatment can be carried out using other methods: percutaneous lithotripsy and surgical methods. The first is to crush the stone using an endoscope inserted transdermally, while surgical removal of the stones is used in cases of failure of other methods. Both methods require the patient to be given general anesthesia. Treatment with such a less invasive procedure as extracorporeal lithotripsy is also used, that is, using electromagnetic waves that crush the stone into fine particles, which facilitates its further expulsion through the urinary tract. In addition to the removal itself, it is often necessary to treat the cause that causes the formation of stones (gout, metabolic disorders).

Possible complications

Even if a stone in the bladder does not cause any painful symptoms in the patient, which is not at all a rare situation, it is necessary to remove it due to possible complications. First of all, the patient is susceptible to blocking the outflow of urine at any time, developing hydronephrosis or pyonephrosis, and even kidney damage. The necessary treatment should be carried out immediately after confirmation of the diagnosis. You should not delay the operation, as this can lead to necrosis of the kidneys and ultimately to kidney failure.

• IMPORTANT TO KNOW! To prevent a blood vessel from bursting in your head, drink 15 drops of regular...

Frequent inflammation of the urinary tract can lead to progressive kidney dysfunction and the development of arterial hypertension. The presence of stones within the bladder can cause:

• constant irritation of its wall;
• the formation of abnormal structures, as well as cancer cells;
• violation contractility bladder muscles with the appearance of so-called atony or, conversely, its excessive contractility.

Prevention measures

To avoid urolithiasis, bladder stone prevention is necessary. First of all, one should never forget about urinary tract hygiene to avoid inflammatory processes, and in case of their occurrence - about effective treatment. For recurrent urinary tract infections in women and men, one course of antibiotic therapy is not enough; sometimes continuous preventive treatment is required antimicrobials. It is necessary to drink adequate amounts of fluid, especially during exposure to hot climates or heavy physical work. The diet used should not contain large amounts of compounds that are components of stones, primarily calcium, oxalates and animal protein. In addition, it is advisable to limit your consumption table salt. Legume seeds (eg beans, beans) and dark bread help reduce the risk of disease. As part of the prevention of urolithiasis, it is recommended to avoid spinach, rhubarb, beets, chocolate, strong coffee and tea. If the symptoms listed above, such as urinary disorders, occur, you should definitely consult a doctor.

nefrolab.ru

Urolithiasis is a pathology in which stones form in the bladder, kidneys, ureters and sometimes in the urethra. Bladder stones are the most common manifestation of this disease. Men over 45 years of age with problems with the prostate gland or urethral structures are most susceptible to this pathology. But this does not exclude the possibility that bladder stones can also occur in women.

Types of stones

The classification of bladder stones is as follows:

1. Chemical composition:

• Oxalate: brown stones with a rough surface that scratch the mucous membrane, thereby causing pain and discoloration of urea in a scarlet shade; the raw material for their formation is oxalic acid salts.
• Phosphate stones are fragile gray pebbles made from phosphate acid salts with a soft structure, due to which they are easily crushed, and appear due to a metabolic failure.
• Urate - smooth, non-traumatic for the mucous membrane, formed from uric acid salts, arising against the background of gout and dehydration.
• Struvite, which appears under the influence of bacteria that provoke an alkaline reaction with significant precipitation of such precipitation as magnesium, ammonium, carbonate and phosphate.
• Cystonic: they look like hexagons, main reason the appearance of which is cystinuria, which is a consequence of congenital changes in metabolism with a constantly increased content of cystine in urine.
• Mixed: formations with high hardness, created from several types of salts, due to which they have a pattern in the form of different layers.

2. By density:

• soft;
• solid.

3. Surface type implies fragments:

• with protrusions in the form of spikes;
• smooth, without a single protrusion.

4. Quantitative characteristics:

• single;
• multiple.

In addition, the formation of stones is primary or secondary. In the first case, stone formation occurs due to stagnation of urine in the bladder cavity. And in the second, formation occurs in the kidneys, and then the fragments travel through the ureter directly into the bladder. The types of bladder stones most commonly observed are of a mixed nature.

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Reasons for education

Metabolic failures provoke the appearance of oxalates.

Many experts are of the opinion that the formation and size of stones are hereditary. But there are several reasons for this process, the main ones include:

• disruptions in metabolism, resulting in the formation of salts that develop into oxalates, urates and phosphates;
• diverticula - protrusion of the mucous membrane and other defects of the muscular membrane from the inside;
• gastrointestinal diseases (for example, gastritis);
• injuries or pathologies of the skeletal system (osteoporosis);
• inflammatory processes in the bladder;
• inflammations affecting the genitourinary organs, kidneys (for example, cystitis);
• blockages in the urinary tract due to bladder outlet obstruction, which leads to impaired urination and stagnation of urine, and then the formation of salt crystals that transform into stones;
• if foreign bodies (catheters, contraceptives, etc.) enter the bladder;
• in the female population, a possible prerequisite is the prolapse of the bladder along with the vaginal wall;
• if a small stone comes out of the kidneys and enters the bladder through the ureter;
• eating large amounts of sour, spicy food, which increases acidity in the urine, which is fraught with salt deposits;
• operations to eliminate urinary incontinence by tissue transfer;
• lack of vitamins and ultraviolet rays;
• infections that cause water loss in the human body;
• the composition of the water that a person drinks, because in some countries it can be quite hard;
• when living in hot countries where there is increased sweating and salt concentration.

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Signs of bladder stones

The cause of acute pain when urinating may be stones in the urinary system.

It happens that the disease is asymptomatic, but more often a bladder stone causes the patient to:

• painful urination;
• pain in the lumbar region;
• bloody discharge in the urine;
• bladder pain;
• cloudy urine, presence of an unpleasant odor;
• frequent urge, especially at night, to urinate, most often painful;
• incomplete emptying of the bladder;
• urinary incontinence;
• acute pain when changing body position or physical activity (if the fragment is in the canal);
• renal colic;
• Large stones, as they move towards the exit, can cause chills and fever.

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How do symptoms differ in women and men?

The disease is more often observed in males.

The general symptoms of bladder stones in women and men are not much different from each other, but it all depends on the location of the stone when it appears. Representatives of the fair sex are less likely to be susceptible to this disease. It can only arise due to atypical anatomical structure urethra, or stones grow on the suture threads after surgical interventions. But they come out quickly and do not cause significant discomfort.

U male population There may be a painful erection, a sharp interruption of the stream until complete emptying.

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Diagnostics

An ultrasound examination of the urinary system is prescribed as part of a comprehensive diagnosis.

Stones in the kidneys and bladder can be identified already at the initial stages of pathology using basic and additional diagnostic methods. All of them require the use of special equipment and professional skills medical personnel. Basic diagnostics include:

• determination of stones in urine through a general analysis;
• blood biochemistry and general analysis to detect inflammation and other changes;
• Ultrasound of the bladder area;
• insertion of a cystoscope for internal examination of the bladder.

Often, the above procedures are not enough to confirm the diagnosis, so doctors turn to auxiliary methods that can provide more accurate results:

• computed tomography;
• x-ray of the urinary tract using excretory urography;
• urography and x-ray of the kidneys;
• cystogram using contrast agent.

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Treatment of women and men: how to remove it?

Treatment of stones in the bladder depends on factors such as the parameters of the stones, their composition, existing complications, age and general condition body. The symptoms of the disease play an important role. The most effective methods are considered to be the following:

• drug therapy;
• diet;
• surgery;
• folk remedies that help get rid of such inclusions.

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Treatment with drugs

The effect of medications will be positive if the stone has already passed into the urethra.

Removing stones from the bladder using drug therapy has two main goals - pain relief and basic therapy. Therefore, the following remedies are used for treatment:

• painkillers antispasmodics (for example, “No-shpa”, “Spazmalgon”);
• antibiotics for infections of the excretory tract, if the stone has passed and damaged their walls (“Ampicillin”, “Nevigramon”);
• stone-dissolving drugs;
• sometimes diuretics are prescribed to expel neoplasms with urine.

However, tablets will help if the stone has already passed into the urethra; in other cases, this method is ineffective. In addition, another drawback is selectivity, since its effectiveness is affected by the chemical composition of the formations. The doctor should also make sure that the passage of a stone in the urethra will not disrupt the outflow of urine. Therefore, not every drug is applicable in this case.

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Diet food

It is necessary to reduce the concentration of urine; for this it is important to adhere to the correct drinking regime.

To treat this disease, it is necessary not only to take the prescribed medications, but also to adhere to a diet. It will help restore normal well-being, prevent the development of new growths and stop the progression of old ones, helping the body create conditions unfavorable for the growth of stones in volume. The mandatory rule is satisfactory drinking regime(up to 10 cups of water per day), which will reduce the concentration of urine.

The patient’s diet is selected by the doctor strictly on an individual basis, taking into account the chemical structure of the formations, which an examination will help you find out:

1. The presence of calcium suggests a reduction in the amount of dairy products in the diet.
2. The oxalate base of the stones gives reason to refuse potatoes, sorrel and lettuce, milk, and oranges due to the content of oxalic acid in them.
3. In case of phosphate formations, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products should be replaced as much as possible with fish, meat, flour products and vegetable oil.
4. Detection of urate stones implies reducing the consumption of foods with uric acid (for example, liver), vegetable fats and fish, and for grapefruit lovers it is better to switch to lemon juice.

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Stone removal operations

To remove large stones, a surgical method is used.

Surgery is required if the stones are large and the medicine is not able to cope, there is urinary retention, and persistent pain. Contraindications include:

• acute infections of the bladder and urethra;
• presence of operations on the pelvic organs;
• poor urethral patency in men.

Today, surgery can be done in the following ways:

• crushing and removal using a cystoscope;
• crushing and removal with an endoscope;
• wave lithotripsy: crushing with ultrasound, X-ray control, then spontaneous release of fragments through the ureter;
• open surgery by opening the bladder wall and removing stones.

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How to dissolve stones in a bladder using folk remedies?

Tablets are not always acceptable to some patients. Dissolving bladder stones with folk remedies - effective way, if there are no significant complications and severe symptoms. To combat stones, you can use herbs and juices:

• a mixture of carrot and cucumber juice;
• beet juice;
• onion tincture: fill half a bottle with onion half rings and add vodka, letting it brew for at least 10 days, then take 1-2 tbsp 2 times a day. l. before meals;
• millet, both in the usual porridge form, added to soups, and in the form of a decoction (boil 0.5 tbsp in 1 liter of water, leave for 30 minutes and strain);
• natural birch sap, a glass three times a day;
• tincture of parsley leaves and roots, 1 tbsp. before meals 3 times a day, which will help remove stones;
• decoction of dried sunflower roots: chop them, pour 3 liters. water and cook for 5 minutes, then strain and cool, it is possible to reuse the boiled herb, drink the entire volume in 2 days and repeat after 2 weeks;
• herb St. John's wort, knotweed, dandelion rhizome, larkspur, violet, pour a liter of water, infuse and strain, drink 1 tbsp for a month. three times a day.

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Complications

Urolithiasis can cause infection of the genitourinary system.

Failure to see a doctor in a timely manner or self-medication can lead to urolithiasis causing complications such as:

• genitourinary system infections;
• blockage of the urinary tract;
• nephrogenic hypertension (uncontrolled surges in blood pressure);
• chronic inflammatory process;
• purulent processes that can cause anaphylactic shock and death of the patient.

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Prevention

1. For the male population over 45, an annual examination by a urologist and nephrologist is recommended, and for women such an examination is prescribed during pregnancy and the presence of pathologies of the genital organs.
2. Balanced diet.
3. Quitting bad habits.
4. Exercise.
5. Always dress appropriately for the weather and avoid getting too cold.
6. Take all medications.
7. Contact specialists in a timely manner when the slightest signs of pathology appear.

Bladder stones in men and women are not a death sentence. Modern medicine offers a fairly wide range of methods to get rid of them; you should not avoid seeking medical help, and then a person will be able to regain his health and fully enjoy life, avoiding the recurrence of the disease with the formation of such formations.

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How are bladder stones formed?

To form a calculus, one of the following conditions must be met:

1. 1Change in the chemical composition of urine, which will lead to precipitation and aggregation of insoluble salts. The composition of urine can change under the influence of diet (excessive consumption of vegetables, meat products), metabolic disorders (gout).
2. 2The presence of an inflammatory process in the urinary tract, foreign bodies ( urinary catheter, stent, suture material). Inflammation is accompanied by the release of proteins into the lumen of the bladder, which serve as a trap for salt crystals. In addition, the physical and chemical characteristics of urine change.
3. 3 Presence of obstruction, dysfunction of the bladder wall and stagnation of urine inside the cavity. Stagnation of urine is accompanied by sedimentation and thickening of insoluble salt particles.

In some cases, stones initially form in the bladder cavity. Less commonly, they migrate from the upper sections: the ureter, the collecting system. Then they further increase in diameter due to the layering of insoluble salt deposits. At the initial stages of stone formation, the small size of the stone facilitates its spontaneous passage. An important role in their spontaneous elimination is played by the absence of barriers to the flow of urine. The chemical composition can indicate origin. Urates are more likely to indicate their initial formation in the lumen of the bladder. Oxalate stones (veddelites and wewellites) usually form in the calyces or pelvis of the kidney. Struvite, consisting of magnesium ammonium phosphate, is formed under the influence of bacteria that produce urease (Proteus mirabilis). Therefore, struvites indicate chronic infection urinary tract. In adult patients, urate is most often detected (more than 50% of cases of urolithiasis). In pediatric patients, stones based on ammonium urate and calcium oxalates are more often diagnosed. In children, urolithiasis can occur with prolonged isolated breastfeeding and eating polished rice. These products are low in phosphorus. A lack of phosphorus in the diet leads to increased excretion of ammonium from the body. In addition, in children from areas where this pathology is endemic, the diet is dominated by vegetables rich in oxalates and meat products.

Physical characteristics of stones

Concretions can be single or multiple. Their sizes vary: from small (3-7 mm in diameter) to large. Their consistency and shape also vary. Most stones are mobile, less often fixed in the area of ​​sutures (if there is a history of operations), tumor growths, or stents.

Causes of urolithiasis

In men, the main problem is an increase in prostate volume (hyperplasia). The prostate grows in the form of a ring surrounding and compressing the neck of the bladder, this leads over time to a pronounced disruption of its emptying. Stagnation of urine against the background of such a “blockade” contributes to the sedimentation of salts, their aggregation and stone formation. In women, urinary disorders and urinary stagnation are much less common. Typical anatomical prerequisites for urolithiasis in women are cystocele, enterocele, surgical interventions on the urethra, the anterior vaginal wall. A neurogenic bladder can also cause urolithiasis. Normal nerve fibers carry an impulse from the brain to the muscle fibers of the bladder wall, leading to their spasm or relaxation. When they are damaged as a result of a stroke, spinal injury, diabetes mellitus and other pathologies, an imbalance occurs in the processes of contraction and relaxation of the muscles of the bladder wall. This imbalance leads to stagnation of urine in the bladder cavity. In order to divert urine, catheterization of the bladder is sometimes performed. The catheter itself is a foreign material and a source of chronic infection, which contributes to the formation of stones. It is the chronic infectious process that explains why struvite (consisting of magnesium ammonium phosphate) is more often detected in patients with spinal cord injury. For the formation of struvite, an alkaline environment is required, which is created by ammonium-producing microorganisms. Less commonly, urolithiasis can result from:

1. 1Inflammation (chronic persistent and recurrent cystitis).
2. 2Medical devices (ureteral stent, urinary catheter) can serve as a matrix for salt deposition.
3. 3Concretions formed in the pyelocaliceal system of the kidney can migrate along the ureter into the cavity of the bladder. Read how to deal with them here (follow the internal link).

Symptoms of the disease

Among patients with pathology, there is variability in the clinical picture: from complete absence any symptoms of the disease to severe pain and severe hematuria. The main manifestations of urolithiasis are:

1. 1Pain and discomfort above the womb. The pain can be dull and intensify with sudden movements and physical activity. Taking a position on the side or lying down by the patient leads to pain relief, sometimes to the passage of urine due to the removal of the stone from the neck of the bladder and the opening of the internal opening of the urethra.
2. 2Dysuric symptoms: pain, increased frequency of urination, intermittent urination. Sometimes the patient is bothered by the sudden cessation of the flow along with the appearance of pain above the pubis, in the scrotum, in the perineum, or in the lower back. This symptom is explained by the rolling of a stone into the triangle of the bladder, followed by muscle spasm and blockage of the proximal urethral opening. By changing body position, the delay and pain can be eliminated.
3. 3 Appearance in urine blood clots, coloring it red (macrohematuria). With a slight increase in the number of red blood cells, the urine does not turn pink and red, in this case we are talking about microhematuria. Microhematuria is recorded by OAM or Nechiporenko's test.

Diagnostic measures

A conversation with the patient and collection of anamnesis are mandatory for diagnosing urolithiasis. First of all, the doctor asks the patient about the symptoms and their possible causes, clarifies the possibility of the hereditary nature of the disease, finds out the presence of concomitant diseases, and previous operations (including on the pelvic organs). When palpating above the pubis, the doctor can determine muscle tension abdominal wall, with acute urinary retention, a full, tense and painful bladder is palpated. Women should be examined for cystocele and enterocele.

General urine test

A general urine test is prescribed to all patients with suspected disease. Expected changes include:

1. 1Increased urine density.
2. 2Neutral or alkaline environment.
3. 3Increased number of red blood cells, leukocytes and casts in the urinary sediment.
4. 4Identification of crystals - urates, phosphates, oxalates.

Urine culture

Urine culture is performed to determine the main pathogen secondary infection urinary tract. The study also evaluates the sensitivity of uropathogens to antibacterial drugs.

General blood test

With a pronounced inflammatory process in the CBC, an increased content of leukocytes, a shift in the leukocyte formula to the left (under the influence of pro-inflammatory factors, an increase in young forms of leukocytes occurs, which leads to a shift in the leukocyte formula), and an acceleration of the ESR.

Biochemical blood test

The analysis allows you to assess the functional state of the kidneys. In the presence of obstruction, biochemical analysis shows an increase in the level of creatinine and urea. Based on changes in other parameters, the cause of the disease can be suspected (for example, an increase in uric acid levels in gout can contribute to the deposition of urate).

Instrumental diagnostics

Figure 1 - Plain X-ray: multiple bladder stones. Illustration source - Medscape.com

• Plain radiography of the abdomen and pelvis, which includes the area of ​​the kidneys, ureters and bladder, allows the identification of radiopaque stones. Urates are X-ray negative, except when they have layers of calcium salts in their structure.
• Ultrasonography. If there are no changes on the radiograph, the patient is indicated for ultrasonography. The method is inexpensive, widely available and allows the differentiation of blood clots or tumors.
• Cystography, intravenous pyelography are methods based on the administration of contrast followed by a series of x-rays. With X-ray negative stones, filling defects are visualized on the image. A filling defect that shifts when the patient changes position is a typical radiological sign. A non-mobile filling defect may indicate a tumor or diverticulum.
• Computed tomography is a highly sensitive method for diagnosing pathology and allows you to diagnose radiopaque and radionegative stones. The use of contrast leads to a decrease in the accuracy of the method.
• Cystoscopy remains the main method for diagnosing the disease. The procedure allows the doctor to assess the size, shape, consistency of the formation, and its location. During the examination, you can also assess the condition of the urethra, prostate and bladder walls, determine the presence of strictures, obstructions in the outflow of urine, identify diverticula and tumors of the bladder wall. Cystoscopy can be supplemented with a biopsy. This is important because long persistence Stones in the bladder cavity are associated with a risk of dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma.

Figure 2 – Endoscopic picture of a stone with an uneven surface. In the background, a changed mucous membrane of the bladder is determined. Illustration source - Medscape.com

Features of treatment

Selecting a view surgical intervention determined by the size of the stone, its composition and the presence of concomitant diseases.

Elimination of the main cause of stone formation (obstruction of the bladder outlet, infectious and inflammatory process, foreign bodies, errors in diet) is the basis for successful treatment and prevention of relapse of the disease.

Contraindications for stone removal are the unstable condition of the patient, asymptomatic disease in an elderly patient with a high surgical risk.

Non-invasive treatments

• Dissolving stones.

Dissolution of stones (lysis) can be used in the treatment of urate. To dissolve them, it is necessary to achieve alkalinization of the urine (pH level = 6.5 and higher). Potassium citrate is used for this purpose. It is worth noting that aggressive alkalization of urine can lead to the deposition of calcium phosphate deposits on the surface of an existing stone and negate all efforts to dissolve it. The method is ineffective and has a high probability of relapse, so it is not widely used.

• Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy can break the stone into small fragments. The effectiveness of the method is determined by the size of the stone: best results can be achieved with sizes not exceeding 2 cm. The method is the best choice in the treatment of small stones, as well as in patients at high risk surgical treatment. Complete fragmentation during the first crushing session is achieved in 77.7-88.4%; repeated sessions increase the effectiveness of treatment. In 17% of cases, cystoscopy is required to evacuate the resulting fragments. Advantages of this technique:

1. 1The method is non-invasive.
2. 2Allows you to crush small stones (up to 2 cm).

Its disadvantages:

1. 1Does not eliminate the cause of the disease.
2. 2The resulting fragments may not always come out on their own; cystoscopy using a basket evacuator may be required to remove them. To remove the remaining fragments, the patient can take antispasmodics (no-spa, papaverine), urological preparations, lingonberry and cranberry juices. The total volume of diuresis should be 1.5-2 liters/day (in the absence of contraindications). Alpha-blockers (tamsulosin) and nifedipine facilitate the removal of fragments with a diameter of up to 7-8 mm and prevent the development of renal colic.

Surgical interventions

For urolithiasis, the following types of surgical interventions can be used:

1. 1Transurethral cystolitholapaxy.
2. 2Percutaneous suprapubic lithotripsy.
3. 3Open suprapubic cystotomy.

• Transurethral fragmentation and removal of stones using endourological instruments (transurethral cystolitholapaxy): a cystoscope and working instruments are inserted through the lumen of the urethra to crush and evacuate fragments. The method is most applicable for stones up to 2 cm in diameter.

Fragmentation is achieved using mechanical/ballistic, ultrasonic, electro-hydraulic or laser energy. The holminium laser has the best effect.

Figure 3 – Laser fragmentation of stone. Illustration source - Medscape.com

Figure 4 - The picture on the left shows a diagram of cystoscopy, on the right - stone removal using a basket extractor. Source of illustration - www.drronaldfrank.com Most often, stone removal is performed using endoscopic methods through the urethra. Removing a large, high-density stone can be difficult. In such a situation, urologists may resort to open surgery or minimally invasive percutaneous interventions.

• Percutaneous suprapubic lithotripsy. For this intervention, a suprapubic approach is used: a small skin incision is made above the pubis, through which the bladder is punctured and working endoscopic instruments are inserted into its cavity.

This operation option allows the use of larger caliber instruments, which ensures rapid fragmentation and the ability to evacuate stones of larger diameter (up to 4 cm). Urologists often resort to a combination of transurethral and suprapubic approaches to facilitate stone fixation during surgery and create adequate bladder irrigation. For suprapubic lithotripsy, the same energy sources are used as for transurethral lithotripsy.

• Open suprapubic cystotomy. During the operation, the stones are not fragmented, but are removed entirely from a wide skin incision above the pubis.

Figure 5 - A - Diagnosis of a stone (more than 7 cm in greatest diameter) in a patient during plain urography. B – Open cystotomy and stone evacuation. A 76-year-old patient with paraplegia and long-term catheterization of the bladder. Illustration source -

Indications for cystotomy:

1. 1Large stones (more than 4 cm in diameter).
2. 2Presence of indications for simultaneous surgery on the prostate and/or bladder: indications for open prostatectomy (prostate weight more than 80-100 g), the presence of wall diverticula.
3. 3 Lack of effect from minimally invasive treatment methods.

Advantages of cystotomy:

1. 1Fast execution.
2. 2It is easier to remove stones that have grown together with the mucosa.
3. 3Possibility of removing large and hard stones that cannot be fragmented.

The main disadvantages of cystotomy:

1. 1B postoperative period patients report more severe pain compared to minimally invasive techniques.
2. 2Longer rehabilitation and hospitalization.
3. 3Higher likelihood of postoperative complications.

Observation after surgery

A month after the intervention, the patient undergoes a survey urogram and ultrasonography to identify residual stones. If they are absent, a re-examination is scheduled after six months and a year. The patient remains under the supervision of a doctor, and pathological changes in a general urine test, biochemical analysis of blood and urine are assessed over time. A study of the chemical composition of the stone is indicated for patients with urate stones, stones of the upper floor of the urinary system, with a family history, recurrence of urolithiasis and its detection without the presence of risk factors.

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Image from lori.ru Without special equipment, bladder stones cannot be seen. But the disease manifests itself pain symptoms, most often in the lower abdomen and above the pubis. The pain can radiate to the perineal area, involving the genitals and internal genital organs. As a rule, pain appears when a person moves and intensifies when the patient urinates. Also, the presence of stones in the bladder may be characterized by an excessively frequent urge to urinate. The patient only needs to walk quickly, get into a shaking car, lift something heavy - and now he needs to look for the nearest toilet. A sign of stones in the bladder is also a specific type of urination disorder - the so-called symptom of an interrupted stream (“blocking”). The bladder has not yet been emptied, but the stream of urine has been interrupted, and the act of urination can be completed only after the position of the body has changed. If the disease is advanced and the stone has reached a significant size, urination becomes possible only in supine position; Treatment of bladder stones should begin as early as possible. Reasons why stones appear in the bladder 1. The most common cause of the appearance of stones inside the bladder is called bladder outlet obstruction; this is a collective term that includes a variety of pathologies that lead to subvesical blockage of the urine outflow tract. As a rule, it is from the violation of free urination that occurs in the area of ​​the bladder neck or urinary canal that adults who have symptoms of bladder stones suffer. The mechanism of stone formation is simple: since the bladder, due to abnormal changes, is unable to perform its functions and empty itself properly, urine stagnates in large quantities, becomes concentrated, and salt crystals are formed, which later transform into stones. In male patients, this condition is often caused by intravesical growth of the prostate gland, as well as compression of the urethra in the prostate area. Also, as a reason that prevents the outflow of urine, there is a narrowing (stricture) of the urethra or Marion's disease (stenosis) - a sclerotic lesion of the bladder in the cervical area. 2. Disruption of the connection between the bladder and the central nervous system (innervation) also leads to the formation of stones. In patients with a neurogenic bladder (impaired urination due to lesions nervous system), injured spinal cord, in 35-36% of cases, stones form over 8 years. 3. Various inflammations affecting the bladder; the development of inflammatory processes can be observed after a person has been prescribed radiation therapy. 4. The presence of foreign bodies in the bladder. These may be remnants of suture material, stents, permanently present catheters, in women - mechanical anti-conception devices that have migrated into the bladder; or foreign bodies that the person himself, through oversight or on purpose, introduced there. 5. Defects of the inner muscular layer, protrusion of the mucous membrane (diverticula); 6. In women, prolapse (prolapse, prolapse) of the bladder together with the vaginal wall - cystostele. 7. Consequence of a reconstructive operation (with tissue transfer) performed to eliminate stress urinary incontinence. 8. Small kidney stones that travel down the tubular ureter into the bladder can also cause the formation of urinary stones. But it's not prerequisite: in medicine there are many cases where, in the presence of kidney stones in patients, no signs of pathology were observed in the bladder. 9. A type of trematodiasis is genitourinary schistosomiasis. If a person whose urine flow is impaired has metabolic disorders, this is not a good reason for the appearance of stones in the bladder. Types of bladder stones Bladder stones are classified according to several criteria:

• Age dependence. In an adult, stones most often contain up to 50% uric acid, in children (according to statistics in areas for which this disease is typical) - uric acid in crystals, as well as calcium phosphates and oxalates.
• Quantity. There may be one stone (single), or there may be several stones in the bladder (multiple).
• Size. There are stones of a wide variety of sizes - from very small to formations comparable in size to the bladder itself.
• Hardness/softness. Urinary stones come in different consistencies, both soft and hard.
• Surface type. There are stones with a flat and smooth surface, like rounded pebbles, and others with spikes.

Main symptoms of bladder stones It happens that the patient does not have any external signs at all; therefore, accurate diagnosis of the presence of stones in the bladder is possible only with the use of special equipment. Most often, patients who have stones in the bladder complain of pain in the lower area abdomen and pubic area; also characterized by sudden attacks of the desire to urinate, accompanied by painful sensations, the appearance of blood in the last portion of urine, and night urges that force the patient to wake up. The following situation is also typical: urination suddenly stops, but pain occurs in the genitals (in men), lower back, abdomen and even in the thighs. Similar sharp or dull pains can also appear when a person exercises or simply changes body position. In some cases, intermittent urinary incontinence and painful erections (priapism) occur in children. Methods for diagnosing bladder stones Basic:

• urine test - general analysis;
• ultrasound diagnostics of the bladder area;
• internal examination of the bladder by inserting a cystoscope.

Additional:

• examination of the bladder using computed tomography;
• panoramic x-ray of the urinary tract;
• Rg study using a contrast agent (cystogram);
• examination of the problem area using a magnetic resonance imaging scanner.

Treatment of bladder stones In the case of conservative treatment, the goal is to alkalize the urine. Medicines and diet are prescribed to the patient depending on what type of salts are detected in the urine. Surgical treatment is possible.

Urolithiasis is a pathology associated with the formation of calculi (stones) in the bladder, ureters, kidneys or urethra. Stones in the bladder are more often observed in men 45 years of age or older due to existing pathologies of the prostate gland or urethral strictures, etc. Such stone formation is most common in African and Middle Eastern countries, Indonesia, Burma, Thailand, etc.

Classifications of stone formation

Stones can be of various shapes and shades, consistency and chemical composition, and can also be multiple or single in nature. Small stones are called microliths, large stones are called macroliths, single stones are called solitary stones. There are several classifications and forms of the disease. According to the types of stones, pathologies can be of the following forms:

• Phosphate - when pebbles are formed from salts of phosphoric acid, these are rather fragile stones with a soft structure and a light gray tint. They usually appear as a result of metabolic disorders;
• Oxalate - when the raw materials for stones are salts of oxalic acid, these stones have a rough surface and a brown color, they can scratch the mucous membrane, which causes pain and turns the urine reddish;
• Urate - formed on the basis of uric acid salts, these are smooth stones that do not injure the mucous membranes, usually observed in residents of hot countries and occur against the background of gout or dehydration;
• Protein - which are protein casts.

In addition, stones can be primary or secondary in nature. During primary formation, stone formation occurs against the background of stagnation of urine in the bladder cavity. In the secondary form of the disease, stones form in the kidneys, and they enter the bladder cavity through the ureter.

In their pure form, stones are very rare; more often they have a mixed base: urate-phosphate, phosphate-oxalate and other combinations.

What indicates the presence of stones in the bladder cavity

The clinical picture of the condition, indicating stones in the bladder, is quite ambiguous. When the stone just descends into the bladder cavity, the patient experiences renal colic, characterized by acute pain in the lumbar region, which can radiate to the perineum, genitals or anterior femoral region. When tapping with the edge of the palm in the renal area, the patient experiences a sharp pain or an intensification of the existing pain syndrome. In addition to pain, patients experience pathological change qualitative characteristics of urine: sand, various salts, blood impurities, etc. may be found in it.

If loose flakes of light shades are found in the urine, the stream is interrupted during urination, and there is a strong painful sensation in the lower abdomen, then it is worth suspecting the presence of pebbles with a phosphate base in the cavity of the bladder.

In cases where the pebble has already sunk into the bladder cavity, or has formed precisely in it, the symptoms will not appear so clearly, although an experienced doctor will still understand the pathology. The amount of bloody impurities and sandy stones in the urine will be insignificant, but the pain will be just as severe. The pain syndrome can be cutting or aching in nature, and it may intensify during sexual intercourse or urination.

When stones are able to move freely through the cavity of the bladder, there is a risk of the stone blocking the mouth of the urethra, and the patient notices a sharp interruption in the stream of urine at the time of urination.

It is worth highlighting the following signs of stone formation in the bladder:

• Syndrome of dull pain, often radiating to the penis or scrotum, aggravated by urination;
• Bloody impurities in the urine, usually appearing after emptying the bladder;
• Visual changes in urine, manifested in the form of cloudiness, thickness or foul odor;
• Frequent, painful and unbearable desire to go to the toilet;
• An unexpected interruption of the stream when the bladder has not yet completely emptied.

In the event of an unreasonable change in the color of urine, the appearance of sediment in it, or painful sensations in the lumbar region, it is recommended to immediately visit a urologist to determine the cause of the changes.

Where do stones come from in the bladder?

There is no clear and only correct answer to this question. Scientists identify a whole group specific factors, due to the influence of which stones are formed in the bladder. The most significant of them is non-compliance with the water-salt regime. The overwhelming majority of researchers claim that urinary stone formation is promoted by excess salt content in the body. This does not mean that salts only come from food and drink. They can also accumulate in the body due to impaired sodium excretion by the kidneys. This can occur against the background of renal pathologies.

Often, the causes of stone formation are caused by bladder outlet obstruction, which is a violation of urinary outflow due to various kinds of obstacles located below the bladder. Against the background of this phenomenon, the bladder is not able to empty completely, which is why urine stagnates in it, resulting in the formation of stones. Obstacles may appear due to:

• Sclerosis, hyperplasia or;
• Stenosis of the bladder neck;
• Scarring of the urethra;
• Kidney stones or sand;
• Violations nerve functions bladder;
• Foreign objects in the bladder (catheters, sutures, stents, cystoceles or diverticula).

The formation of stones can begin against the background of inflammatory pathologies of the bladder. Geographical residence of a person can also play a significant role in the process of stone formation in the bladder. Thus, in countries with a tropical climate, a larger number of patients with urolithiasis have been recorded than in northern countries.

Therapy for urinary stone formation

The therapeutic process is divided into attack relief and general basic treatment. To stop an attack, lytic mixtures containing antispasmodics are usually used. Among them are drugs like No-shpa, Baralgin, Spazmalgon, Papaverine, etc. Although it is more convenient and easier to take such medications in the form of tablets, the experience of doctors proves that the greatest effect is achieved with intramuscular or intravenous injection. Medicines similar action help relax the walls of the ureter, which facilitates the process of moving the stone along it. But these remedies only eliminate the symptoms of the attack, and do not cure the underlying disease.

Conservative treatment of stones involves following a proper diet and selecting the right medications, suitable for the basic composition of the resulting stones. This therapy involves alkalizing the urine, as a result of which already formed stones are eliminated and new stones cannot form.

If urate stones are detected in the bladder, litholytic therapy is indicated, which involves dissolving the stones by taking special medications.

It is possible to get rid of stones surgically, although surgical solution problems are resorted to extremely rarely today, since it is possible to eliminate excrement in less invasive ways. For pebbles measuring 0.5-2 cm, crushing them using laser or ultrasonic action is indicated. It is possible to carry out crushing through a small puncture, i.e. using the contact method. After the stones are crushed, they are washed with a special liquid.

Methods for preventing stone formation

Prevention of stone formation is based on a diet that avoids salty, smoked, fatty and generously spiced foods; in general, it is recommended to minimize the consumption of fat and salt. The drinking regime also needs adjustment. It is considered normal if an adult consumes 1.5-2.5 liters of fluid per day, with about 7-10 urinations.

Prevention of stone formation includes therapy for inflammation of the bladder and possible pathologies of the prostate gland. If there are foreign bodies such as stents and catheters, then their timely replacement is necessary. Men over 50 are recommended to have an annual preventative visit to a urologist. Well, bad habits must be eliminated: quit smoking, do not drink alcohol, avoid using drugs.

Urolithiasis is characterized by the formation of calculi (stones) in the human urinary tract. Formations in the bladder often form in the stronger sex after 45 years of age due to diseases of the prostate gland or urethral structures. The disease is widespread in African and, less frequently, Middle Eastern countries. Europe suffers from the disease a little less frequently, but bladder stones are a relatively common concern for men.

Follow the preventive recommendations, and if you notice any unpleasant symptoms, immediately visit a doctor. A timely diagnosed disease can be treated, and the prognosis is almost always positive. Lack of therapy threatens the development of numerous complications, including death.

Factors influencing the formation of the disease

Science does not fully know the exact factors that provoke the formation of bladder stones in representatives of the stronger sex. Scientists have identified a number of possible causes of the disease. The most negative factor is non-compliance with the water-salt regime. The accumulation of excessive salts leads to improper functioning of the urinary tract in the body.

The accumulation of salts is not always associated with excessive consumption of the product. The pathological process can develop against the background of impaired sodium excretion by the kidneys and the course of diseases of the genitourinary system.

Provoking factors include:

• abnormal structure of the urinary tract, which contributes to stagnation of urine in the bladder;
• inflammatory processes occurring in the bladder;
• the presence of small stones in the upper urinary tract. Small stones can pass into the bladder, get stuck there, and begin to increase in size;
• foreign bodies (catheters, suture material). All objects can migrate into the bladder and disrupt the flow of urine;
• prostate cancer, oncological diseases in the body (radiation therapy has a negative effect).

The root cause of the appearance of stones in the bladder is an important aspect. Before removing stones, doctors will often prescribe a course of therapy that eliminates the cause of the pathology (for example, they treat metabolic disorders, eliminate infectious diseases).

Signs and symptoms

The presence of salt formations in the bladder in men is manifested by pain in the lumbar region and the appearance of blood in the urine. Symptoms intensify during physical activity and sudden movements. Changing body position often leads to acute pain, which is associated with the movement of stones. During this process, the patient feels pain of varying severity. In men, the pain integrates into the genital area. If stones block the ureter, this leads to urine accumulation.

Attacks of acute pain are often accompanied by an increase in body temperature, sometimes with chills. Unpleasant sensations go away if the stone changes its position or comes out completely. Added to the above signs is a change in the shade of urine, its consistency, and the smell also becomes sharply unpleasant. A severe pain attack will be relieved by analgesics; in severe cases, call an ambulance.

Classification of the pathological process

Stones in the bladder can be of different sizes, shades, and differ in chemical composition. Small stones are called, medium ones - macrolites, large ones - solitary formations.

Experts distinguish many classifications, but the composition of stones in the bladder plays an important role in treatment:

• oxalate. Stones are formed from oxalic acid; they have a rough surface and a brown tint. The formations scratch the urinary tract, turning the urine red;
• phosphate. The stones are formed from phosphate acid, they are quite fragile, and have a gray tint. Often such stones are formed as a result of metabolic disorders;
• urate. The formation process is started by uric acid. Urate stones are smooth and do not injure mucous membranes. Such formations appear in residents of hot countries against the background of constant dehydration;
• protein. They include protein compounds and are formed against the background of poor nutrition.

Important! Each type of stone requires specific treatment and a special diet. It is impossible to independently determine the chemical composition of stones. Diagnosis is carried out by an experienced physician, and the physician prescribes an appropriate course of eliminating the pathology. Incorrect treatment leads to aggravation of the situation and complications.

Diagnostics

To prescribe appropriate therapy, the physician must make the correct diagnosis. Research includes a lot of activities:

• general analysis of urine and blood of the victim;
• Ultrasound of the bladder and other nearby organs;
• An x-ray of the bladder often helps to make a correct diagnosis;
• intravenous urography.

Don't get used to the attacks of pain; bladder stones are treatable. Lack of medical care leads to inflammation in the kidney, disruption of the organ, and the development of renal failure. In the worst case scenario, you may lose your damaged kidney.

Effective treatments

Removing bladder stones in men is a long process that requires an integrated approach. Depending on the chemical composition of the stone and the individual characteristics of the patient, the doctor prescribes therapy. It includes the use of medications, folk remedies, and adherence to a special diet. In some cases, surgery is required.

Drug therapy

To reduce pain Analgesics are used, and antispasmodics help facilitate the process of removing stones from the bladder.

The following medications can dissolve stones:

• Allopurinol. It influences the process of formation of uric acid in the patient’s body, reducing the chances of stones appearing, and promotes the dissolution of existing urate stones. The medicine is also actively used for the treatment of gout, so the medicine copes with stones in the bladder if their etiology is not clear;
• Pennicillamine. Used to dissolve cystine stones. Effectiveness is ensured by stopping the excretion of cystine in the urine. Long-term use medications may lead to permanent dry mouth, skin rash, tinnitus;
• Captopril. Designed to treat high blood pressure, but works great for cystine stones. Side effects include: dizziness, slight weight loss of the patient, skin rashes.

Medicines should not be used if there is high blood pressure, during pregnancy, or if there are other contraindications.

Folk remedies and recipes

Natural drugs do an excellent job of removing various salt formations from the urinary tract of the stronger sex. The key to successful treatment is the regular use of folk remedies and their proper preparation.

Effective recipes:

• onion tincture. Fill half a jar with onion, cut into rings. Fill the vegetable to the top with alcohol or vodka, let it brew for ten days. Take the resulting product two tablespoons twice before meals. The duration of therapy depends on the size of the formations in the bladder;
• sunflower roots. First, rinse the raw materials thoroughly, chop finely, pour into a saucepan, pour three liters of boiling water, cook for five minutes. There are enough raw materials to prepare three servings of decoction; drink the strained decoction half a glass three times a day for one month;
• tangerine therapy. The method is allowed for patients who are not prone to allergies. Eat up to two kilograms of tangerine throughout the week. Take a week break and repeat the treatment procedures;
• vegetable juice. Drink 100 grams of carrot/cucumber/beetroot juice three times a day. You can prepare a mixture of juices and drink them twice a day. The course of therapy lasts no more than two weeks; prolonged treatment can lead to the development of an allergy to the selected components of the drug.

Before starting therapy, consult your doctor, If allergic reactions occur, choose another traditional medicine recipe.

Go to the address and read about the rules of nutrition and diet for glomerulonephritis.

Surgical intervention

In particularly severe cases, the patient is indicated for surgical intervention. Recently, many techniques have appeared that allow you to crush stones without resorting to a scalpel. If the size of the stones does not exceed 20 mm, ultrasound or laser is used. The procedure helps destroy stones in all organs except the bladder.

To solve this problem, they use the contact method using a special instrument (cystoscope): they make a thin puncture in the right place, crush the stones, and wash the cavity with a special liquid. Large stones and the presence of contraindications to crushing stones oblige doctors to perform a full-fledged surgical intervention.

Useful tips will help prevent the re-formation of stones in the bladder in the stronger sex:

• treat cystitis in a timely manner;
• avoid hypothermia;
• give up bad habits;
• follow a special diet prescribed by your doctor;
• Visit a urologist once a year and promptly treat prostate pathologies. For men over fifty years of age, preventive examination must be held twice a year;
• increase the amount of fluid consumed (at least one and a half liters per day). The specific dosage depends on the patient’s water-salt balance and is calculated individually.

Stones in the urinary system are a serious problem that requires attention. A negligent attitude to health can lead to complications, even loss of a kidney. Visit the doctor on time and monitor the condition of your body.

Find out more about the reasons for the formation of stones in the bladder and methods of treating the pathology after watching the following video:

Humanity has known since ancient times that stones can form in the bladder. About 3% of the population over 20 years old suffers from this problem. According to statistics, stones in the bladder (cystolithiasis) are more common in men, but women are also not immune from their formation.

This is one of the manifestations of urolithiasis. The appearance of stones in women can be associated with many factors. Stones can be of different sizes, composition, shape, color, consistency. The consequences of the disease for women may be more pronounced than for men. The female genitourinary system is physiologically more complex; it contains reproductive function. That is why cystolithiasis requires timely treatment in order to preserve the normal functionality of the female body.

Reasons for appearance and mechanism of formation

There are many theories that explain how stones are originally formed. But unified theory not yet developed. It is believed that the prerequisites for the primary formation of stones are the same as those that lead to an increase in stone size.

The main factor causing the development of cystolithiasis is a violation of the outflow of urine, which provokes its accumulation in the bladder. When blood is filtered through the kidneys, filtrates (primary urine) are formed. From it the body restores water and microelements. When there is a high content of insoluble impurities in the blood, they enter the urine and settle on the walls of the bladder. At first they are small, but over time large stones form.

In women, the formation of primary stones is not possible, since their main causes are male pathologies (prostate adenoma, urethral stricture).

Causes of urinary problems in women:

• narrowed urethra (formed as a result of medical manipulations);
• cystocele - prolapse of the bladder with the vaginal wall;
• genitourinary infections;
• innervation - disruption of the connection between the bladder and the central nervous system;
• diverticula - protrusion of the wall of an organ and its deformation;
• spinal cord injuries;
• metabolic disorders (cystolithiasis is more often diagnosed in overweight women);
• change in urine pH;
• eating foods that increase urine acidity;
• foreign substances in the bladder cavity (ligatures, stents);
• lack of sufficient physical activity;
• dehydration due to lack of fluid intake or drinking low-quality water with a high salt content.

Diseases that increase the risk of stone formation:

• osteoporosis;
• gout;
• tumors;
• genitourinary schistosomiasis.

Classification of pathology

The symptoms of cystolithiasis in women depend on the size, structure and composition of the stones.

Based on their chemical composition, stones are divided into several types:

• Calcium- the most common (about 80% of cases). These are solid formations that do not dissolve well and are excreted from the body. There are calcium oxalates and phosphates.
• Urats- have a smooth surface, usually formed with insufficient water consumption, as well as in women with gout.
• Struvite- are formed under the influence of bacteria that alkalize urea and lead to the deposition of Mg, carbonate and phosphate salts on the walls. They have a crystalline form.
• Cystons- crystalline hexagonal formations, which account for only 3% of all stone formations in the bladder. They are formed against the background of existing cystonuria (a constant increase in the level of cystine in the urine due to a congenital anomaly).

More often, mixed forms of stones consisting of different types of salts are diagnosed in the bladder.

Clinical picture

Local and general symptoms may indicate bladder stones in women.

Local signs of cystolithiasis:

• pain in the lower abdomen, intensifies towards the end of urination;
• lower back pain;
• frequent urination, especially during various loads and movements;
• cloudy urine, blood;
• dysuria - painful urination, and false urge to do so.

Acute pain may occur when changing body position due to a change in the position of the stone. The location of pain may vary depending on the integration of stones. Frequent and unreasonable urges to urinate indicate that the stone is in the ureter or in the lower part of the bladder. When a stone obstructs the ureter, urine accumulates in the kidneys and develops. Colic attacks go away when the stone changes position or comes out.

General symptoms:

• increase in temperature;
• chills;
• nausea;
• loss of appetite;
• weakness;
• headaches.

Diagnostics

If bladder stones are small, external symptoms may not appear at all. To diagnose cystolithiasis, laboratory and instrumental methods are used. They help not only to identify the presence of stones, but also to find out their size, structure, composition, and exact location.

Diagnostic methods:

• clinical analysis of urine and blood;
• x-ray of the bladder (not performed during pregnancy);
• urocystography;
• MRI, CT.

Effective methods and general rules of treatment

The doctor will determine the treatment regimen for cystolithiasis based on the diagnostic results. It all depends on the nature of the formations, their size and symptoms of the disease.

Conservative therapy

It is advisable to prescribe if the stones have a smooth surface, they are not large sizes and when exiting through the ureter will not cause its obstruction.

To relieve spasms during the passage of stones, take antispasmodics that relax the walls of the bladder:

• No-shpa;
• Drotaverine;
• Spasmalgon.

The above drugs do not remove stones, so basic therapy is necessary. Medications should be taken to maintain the alkaline balance of urine.

To soften and remove small stones, the doctor may prescribe special medications, focusing on the composition of the formation:

• Potassium citrate- binds calcium in the urine, preventing its crystallization. Effective against , Oxalite. The substance also alkalinizes urine, which prevents the formation of urates, oxalates and cystine stones.
• Tiopronin- used to dissolve cystine deposits. The product reduces the release of its own cystine in the urine. It is recommended to drink plenty of water.
• Litostat- urease inhibitor, dissolves struvite stones.
• Thiazides- reduce the amount of calcium in the urine, preventing its deposition in the bladder.
• - reduces the formation of uric acid in the body, dissolves urate stones.

Note! It should be taken into account that all medicines have side effects. You cannot use medications without a doctor’s prescription. The drugs are effective only in the presence of small formations that can be removed without surgery. There is no clear opinion among experts regarding the effectiveness of tablets for cystolithiasis.

Nutrition rules and drinking regime

This is an integral part of comprehensive treatment. First of all, a woman needs to exclude from her diet all foods that irritate the bladder. Proper diet and drinking regimen are necessary to control the composition of urine. Daily fluid intake should be 2-2.5 liters. It is useful to drink clean water without gas, cranberry juice. In any case, it is recommended to stick to table No. 7.

Avoid using:

• all legumes;
• spinach;
• sorrel;
• cabbage;
• radish;
• smoked, fried, spicy dishes;
• meat broths;
• offal;
• coffee;
• chocolate;
• cheese;
• confectionery products.

Surgical intervention

Surgical treatment methods are indicated in the following cases:

• ineffectiveness of conservative therapy;
• acute urinary retention;
• obstruction of the ureter, causing severe pain, damage to the mucosa;
• large stones that pose a threat to the patient’s life;
• relapses of cystitis;
• blood in urine.

Operations can be carried out in several ways. Open operations are rarely performed today due to the high risk of complications. Their alternative is to crush the stones into small fragments. Over time, they are independently excreted through the ureters. The modern procedure is lithotripsy. It can be remote or contact.

Remote lithotripsy is the most painless method. There is no direct contact of the tool with the stone. During the procedure, a lithotripter is applied to the surface of the skin, depending on the location of the stone, which directs repeating waves of the required strength and depth to the stone. Intravenous anesthesia is given first. It is prohibited to perform such an operation on pregnant women, as well as in case of pyelonephritis, narrowing of the ureter, or bleeding.

Contact lithotripsy is a manipulation using an endoscope, in which the instrument is brought to the formation and crushed using ultrasound or laser. This method helps remove low-density stones.

Transurethral cystolitholapaxy - using a special energy device after cystoscopy, stones are crushed, and their fragments are removed through a cystoscope. The technique is not used if the bladder volume is small, during pregnancy, or if there is a pacemaker.

An open cystolithotomy is performed if the stones are large and cannot be removed using a lithotripter and cystoscope. The doctor makes a small incision in the walls of the bladder. From there he extracts stones. After which the bladder is sutured.

Prevention measures

To avoid the formation of stone deposits in the bladder, a woman should:

• monitor urinary tract hygiene;
• prevent exacerbation of inflammatory processes in the genitourinary system;
• drink sufficient quantity fluids per day;
• do not overeat, do not eat too fatty, spicy, salty foods;
• limit consumption of foods with purine and oxalates;
• do not overcool;
• avoid stagnation of urine in the bladder;
• take medications too.

Bladder stones are a problem for women's health. They form over a long period of time and often the presence of stones is diagnosed when they have already reached large sizes and cause a lot of unpleasant sensations. You need to regularly check your health, monitor the condition of the genitourinary system in order to detect the problem in time and solve it without negative consequences.

Video. Specialist on the causes of formation and methods of removing bladder stones in women: