Bladder stones symptoms and treatment. How do bladder stones show up? What type of anesthesia is used for surgical treatment?

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

Types of stones

The classification of stones in the bladder is as follows:

1. Chemical composition:

Oxalate: brown calculi with a rough surface, scratching the mucous membrane, thereby causing pain and staining of urea in a scarlet hue, the raw material for their formation is oxalic acid salts.
Phosphate - fragile gray pebbles from salts of phosphate acid with a soft structure, due to which they are easily crushed, and appear due to a malfunction in metabolism.
Urate - smooth, not traumatic for the mucosa, formed from salts uric acid that occur against the background of gout and dehydration.
Struvite, appearing under the influence of bacteria that provoke an alkaline reaction with a significant precipitation of deposits such as magnesium, ammonium, carbonate and phosphorus.
Cystone: have the appearance of hexagons, main reason the appearance of which - cystinuria, which is the result of congenital changes in metabolism with constantly high content 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 characteristic:

single;
multiple.

In addition, the formation of stones has a primary or secondary character. In the first case, stone formation occurs due to stagnation of urine in the bladder cavity. And in the second - the formation occurs in the kidneys, and then the fragments through the ureter enter directly into the bladder. Types of stones in the bladder, more commonly observed, have a mixed basis.

Reasons for education

Disruptions in metabolism 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, among the main ones are:

metabolic failures, resulting in the formation of salts that develop into oxalates, urates and phosphates;
diverticula - protrusion of the mucosa and other defects in the muscular membrane from the inside;
diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (for example, gastritis);
injury or pathology skeletal system(osteoporosis);
inflammatory processes in the bladder;
inflammation affecting urinary organs, kidneys (eg, cystitis);
blockage in the urinary tract due to infravesical obstruction, which entails impaired urination and stagnation of urine, and then salt crystals form, transforming into stones;
if it enters the bladder foreign bodies(catheters, contraceptives, etc.);
in the female population, a possible prerequisite is the prolapse of the bladder along with the wall of the vagina;
if a small stone comes out of the kidneys and enters the bladder through the ureter;
eating large amounts of acidic 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 provoke water loss in the human body;
the composition of the water that a person uses, because in some countries it can be quite hard;
when living in hot countries where there is increased sweating and salt concentration.

Signs of stones in the bladder

The cause of acute pain during urination can be stones in the urinary system.

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

painful urination;
pain in the lumbar region;
bloody discharge in the urine;
cloudy urine, the 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 exertion (if the fragment goes in the canal);
renal colic;
large calculi, when moving towards the exit, can cause chills, fever.

How do symptoms differ in women and men?

The disease is more commonly seen 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 calculus when they appear. The fair sex is less likely to this disease. It can arise only because of an atypical anatomical structure urethra, or pebbles grow on the threads of the sutures after surgical interventions. But they quickly come out and do not cause significant discomfort.

The male population may experience a painful erection, a sharp interruption of the jet until it is completely empty.

Diagnostics

Ultrasound examination of the organs of the urinary system is prescribed as part of a comprehensive diagnosis.

It is possible to identify stones in the kidneys and bladder already at the initial stages of the pathology using the main and additional methods diagnostics. All of them require the use of special equipment and professional skills. medical staff. Basic diagnostics include:

determination of stones in the urine by passing a general analysis;
blood biochemistry and general analysis to detect inflammation and other changes;
Ultrasound of the bladder region;
introduction 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, thanks to which you can get more accurate results:

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

Treatment of women and men: how to withdraw?

The treatment of bladder stones depends on factors such as the parameters of the stones, their composition, existing complications, age and general condition of the body. Not the last role is played by the symptoms of the disease. Most effective methods the following are considered:

drug therapy;
dieting;
surgical intervention;
folk remedies helping to get rid of such inclusions.

Drug treatment

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

Removal of stones from the bladder with the help of drug therapy has two main goals - relief of pain 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 calculus has passed and damaged their walls (Ampicillin, Nevigramon);

To treat this disease, it is necessary not only to take prescribed drugs, but also to adhere to a diet. It will help restore normal health, prevent the development of new growths and stop the progression of old ones, helping the body create conditions unfavorable for the increase in stones in volume. A mandatory rule is a satisfactory drinking regimen (up to 10 tablespoons of water per day), which will lower the concentration of urine.

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

The presence of calcium suggests a decrease in the amount of dairy products in the diet.
The oxalate base of the stones gives reason to refuse potatoes, sorrel and lettuce, milk, oranges due to the content of oxalic acid in them.
With phosphate formations, fruits, vegetables, dairy products should be replaced as much as possible with fish, meat, flour products and vegetable oil.
Finding urate stones means reducing your intake of uric acid foods (such as liver), vegetable fats and fish, and grapefruit lovers should switch to lemon juice.

Bladder stones cannot be seen without special equipment. But the disease manifests itself pain symptoms, most often in the lower abdomen and above the pubis. The pain can radiate to the perineum, capture the genitals and internal genital organs. As a rule, pain sensations appear when a person moves, and intensify when the patient urinates.

Also, the presence of calculi in the bladder may be characterized by too frequent urges urinate. It is enough for the patient to walk quickly enough, sit in a shaking car, lift something heavy - and now it is necessary to look for the nearest toilet.

A sign of stones in the bladder are also violations of urination of a specific type - the so-called symptom of an interrupted stream ("laying"). 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 the supine position; treatment of bladder stones should be started as early as possible.

Causes of bladder stones

Reasons why stones appear in the bladder:

Most common cause the appearance of stones inside the bladder is compound name infravesical obstruction; this is a collective term that includes a variety of pathologies that lead to subvesical blockage of the outflow of urine.

As a rule, it is from the violation of free urination that occurs in the area of the neck of the bladder or the urination canal that adults who suffer from symptoms of bladder stones suffer.

The mechanism of stone formation is simple: since the bladder, due to abnormal changes, is not able to perform its functions and be emptied properly, urine stagnates in large quantities, concentrates, salt crystals are formed, which later transform into stones.

In male patients, intravesical growth of the prostate gland, as well as squeezing of the urethra in the prostate area, often leads to this condition. 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 region.

Violation of the connection of the bladder with the central nervous system (innervation) also leads to the formation of stones. In patients with neurogenic bladder(impaired urination due to a lesion nervous system), injured spinal cord, in 35-36% of cases, calculi are formed in 8 years.

Various inflammations affecting the bladder; the development of inflammatory processes can be observed after a person has been prescribed radiation therapy.

The presence of foreign bodies in the bladder. These can be remnants of suture material, stents, constantly present catheters, in women - mechanical means against conception, migrated to the bladder; or foreign bodies that the person himself through an oversight or specially introduced there.

Defects of the inner muscular membrane, protrusion of the mucous membrane (diverticula);

In women, prolapse (prolapse, prolapse) of the bladder together with the wall of the vagina - cystostele.

A consequence of a reconstructive type operation (with tissue transfer) performed to eliminate stress incontinence urine.

Small kidney stones that have passed through the tubular ureter into the bladder can also cause urinary stones to form. But this is not a prerequisite: in medicine, there are many cases when, in the presence of kidney stones in patients, there were no signs of pathology in the bladder.

A type of trematodosis is urogenital schistosomiasis.

If a person who has impaired urine outflow has metabolic disorders, this does not serve as a good reason for the appearance of stones in the bladder.

Types of bladder stones

Bladder stones are classified according to several criteria:

Age dependency. 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).

The size. There are calculi of a wide variety of sizes - from very small to formations comparable in size to the bladder itself.

Hardness / softness. Stones in the urinary tract come in various textures, both soft and hard.

surface type. There are calculi with a flat and smooth surface, like rounded pebbles, and there are with protrusions-thorns.

The main symptoms of bladder stones

It happens that the patient does not observe any external signs; that's why accurate diagnosis the presence of stones in the bladder is possible only with the use of special equipment.

Most often, patients who have bladder stones complain of pain in the lower abdomen and pubic area; also characteristic are sharp attacks of desire to urinate, accompanied by painful sensations, the appearance of blood in the last portion of urine, nighttime urges that cause the patient to wake up.

The following situation is also typical: urination suddenly stops, but there is pain of character in the genitals (in men), lower back, abdomen and even in the thighs.

Similar sharp or dull pains can also appear when a person is engaged in physical education or simply changes the position of the body. In some cases, intermittent urinary incontinence and painful erections (priapism) have been observed in children.

Methods for diagnosing bladder stones

Main:

urinalysis - general analysis;
ultrasound diagnosis of the bladder region;
internal examination of the bladder by inserting a cystoscope.

Additional:

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

Treatment of bladder stones

In the case of conservative treatment, the goal is to alkalize the urine. Medicines and a diet are prescribed to the patient, depending on what type of salts are found in the urine. Operative treatment is possible.

Bladder stones (cystoliths) form when minerals coalesce into small hard formations. Suitable conditions occur when the bladder is not completely emptied, due to which the urine becomes concentrated - this leads to the crystallization of the dissolved minerals contained in it.

Sometimes these stones come out (while they are small), sometimes they are fixed to the wall of the urinary or urethra, gradually increasing in size.

Often, cystoliths remain in the bladder for a long time without causing any symptoms and are discovered incidentally during examinations for other health problems.

Causes of bladder stones

Since cystoliths begin to form in residual urine, which is not completely removed from the bladder, the search for the causes of stone formation is associated with certain diseases that prevent complete emptying. These pathologies include:

Neurogenic bladder - observed when the nerves connecting the bladder with the spinal cord and brain are damaged (for example, after a stroke or spinal injury).
Enlarged prostate - an enlarged prostate gland compresses the urethra.
Medical devices - catheters, sutures, stents, foreign bodies in the bladder, contraceptive devices.
Inflammation of the bladder.
Kidney stones - they can migrate through the ureters to the bladder and increase in size.
Bladder diverticula - urine accumulates and stagnates in them.
Cystocele - in women, the wall of the bladder may protrude into the vagina, which interferes with emptying.

Types and composition of stones

Not all stones are made up of the same minerals. Various types include:

Calcium stones are composed of calcium oxalates, phosphates and hydroxyphosphates.
Uric acid stones are the most frequent view in adults.
Struvite stones are the most common type of stone found in women with urinary tract infections.
Cystins - occur in patients suffering from hereditary disease cystinuria, in which the amino acid cystine passes from the kidneys into the urine.

Cystoliths have different sizes and textures - they can be single or located in groups, have a rounded shape or have outgrowths.

Most big Stone, found in the bladder, weighed 1899 g and measured 17.9 x 12.7 x 9.5 cm.

Sometimes symptoms of bladder stones do not appear for a long time. But, as soon as they begin to irritate the walls, they appear characteristics. So, the symptoms of a stone in the bladder can be as follows:

Discomfort or pain in the penis in men.
More frequent urination or intermittent flow of urine.
Slow onset of urination.
Pain in the lower abdomen.
Pain and discomfort during urination.
Blood in the urine.
Cloudy or abnormally dark urine.

Features in women

The cause of the formation of cystoliths in women may be a cystocele (prolapse of the urinary bladder into the vagina), contraceptives that have migrated into the bladder, and vaginal reconstruction surgery.

Cystocele is manifested by the sensation of a third-party body in the vagina, discomfort during sex.

Because the urethra is shorter in women than in men, it infectious inflammation(urethritis) is more likely to progress to cystitis (bladder inflammation). Recurrent cystitis is a risk factor for the formation of cystoliths and a sign of their presence in women.

Diagnostics

The presence of cystoliths is detected using the following methods:

Urinalysis - determines the presence of blood, bacteria and mineral crystals.
CT scan.
Ultrasound procedure.
Radiography (with this examination, not all types of cystoliths can be seen).
Intravenous pyelography - a special contrast is injected intravenously, which is excreted through the kidneys into the bladder.

With small stones, their natural removal to the outside is facilitated by increased water intake. If they are too large to pass through the urethra, treatment is divided into two groups: stone crushing and surgical removal.

It is important to note that scientific data confirming the effectiveness of treatment with folk remedies does not exist.

crushing stones

Cystolitholapaxy (crushing of stones) consists in the institution through the urethra into the bladder of a thin tube with a camera at the end, with the help of which the doctor sees the stones and can crush them.

For this, a laser, ultrasound or mechanical crushing is used, after which the fragments are washed out or sucked out. This procedure is performed under local or general anesthesia.

Surgical removal

If the stones are so large that they cannot be crushed with cystolitholapaxy, another treatment option is surgery. The surgeon makes an incision in the abdominal wall and bladder, through which the cystolite is removed.

Possible Complications

Despite the fact that some cystoliths do not cause any complaints, they can still lead to the development of a number of complications:

Chronic bladder dysfunction (frequent urination associated with pain and discomfort). Over time, cystolith can completely block the opening of the urethra, blocking the exit of urine from the bladder.
Urinary tract infections.

Since the formation of stones, as a rule, is caused by the presence of some kind of disease, there are no trouble-free and specific methods of prevention.

However, if a person develops any urinary tract problems (eg, pain when urinating, discoloration of urine), it is advisable to seek immediate medical attention. medical care. Drinking enough fluids also helps dissolve minerals.

If a person has a urinary tract infection and incomplete emptying bladder, he should try to urinate again 10-20 seconds after the first attempt. This technique is called "double emptying", it helps to prevent the formation of cystoliths.

It is believed that sitting while urinating helps to completely empty the bladder in patients with an enlarged prostate. This, in turn, prevents or slows down the formation of cystoliths.

In this article, we will look at the symptoms and treatment of bladder stones. What is this disease?

Urolithiasis is a pathology characterized by the formation of stones in the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and in some cases in the urethra. Bladder stones are the most common form of the disease.

It often happens that they come out of the bladder. The symptoms are very unpleasant.

Men over the age of 45 are at the highest risk of developing kidney stones, especially those who have problems with the prostate and the functioning of the urethral structures. However, women can also have bladder stones. The symptoms are presented below.

Types of stones by chemical composition

There is a certain classification according to which stones in the bladder are divided into several types according to different features. Depending on the chemical composition distinguish the following variations:

Oxalate. These are brown stones that have a rough surface, tend to scratch the mucous membrane, which causes severe pain and turns urine red. Such stones are formed from salts of oxalic acid.
Phosphate. They are brittle rocks. gray color, which are formed from salts of phosphoric acid. They have a soft structure, which makes it easy to crush them. The most common cause of phosphate stones is a metabolic disorder.
Urate. They have a smooth surface, do not injure the mucous membrane, are formed from uric acid salts and occur as a complication of dehydration or gout.
Struvite. This type stones appear as a result of the negative impact of microorganisms, which cause an alkaline reaction and lead to significant precipitation, such as ammonium, magnesium, phosphate and carbonate.
Cystone. Presented in the form of hexagons, the cause of their appearance is, as a rule, cystinuria - a consequence of congenital metabolic disorders, which leads to a regular increase in the level of cystine in urine.
mixed type. These formations have a high degree densities, arise from several types of salts and have a layered pattern.

If you have any kind of bladder stones, the symptoms can be very unpleasant.

Other classifications

The following types are distinguished by density:

Solid.
Soft.

According to the type of surface, stones can be:

Spiny.
Smooth, without any protrusions.

By the number of formations, stones are:

Multiple.
Single.

By nature of origin:

Primary. Their formation provokes a violation of the outflow of urine from the bladder.
Secondary. Formed in the kidneys, and only then descend into the bladder.

If symptoms of bladder stones appear, they should not be ignored, you should immediately contact a specialist.

Reasons for the formation of stones

Majority medical professionals sure that the occurrence and size of stones are determined by the presence of genetic predisposition. However, there are other reasons why bladder stones can form. The most common of these are:

Metabolic disorder, which leads to the appearance of salts, gradually turning into urates, oxalates and phosphates.
Diverticula - protrusion of the mucosa and other disorders of the muscular membrane.
Diseases gastrointestinal tract such as gastritis and ulcers.
Pathologies bone structures such as osteoporosis, as well as their injury.
Development inflammatory process in the bladder.
Inflammatory process in the organs genitourinary system and kidneys, such as cystitis.
Blockage of the urinary tract as a result of infravesical obstruction, which leads to impaired urination and stagnation, after which salt crystals are formed, which later turn into stones.
Foreign bodies entering the bladder, such as catheters, contraceptives, etc.
A prerequisite for the formation of stones in the bladder in a woman can be the omission of the organ along with the vaginal wall.
The exit of a small stone from the kidneys, which enters through the ureter into the bladder.
Overuse sour, spicy foods and other foods that can increase acidity and, as a result, provoke salt deposits.
Surgical intervention aimed at eliminating urinary incontinence through tissue transfer.
Deficiency of ultraviolet rays and vitamins.
Infectious diseases which lead to dehydration.
Hard water used to quench thirst.
If we are talking about hot countries, then hyperhidrosis and accumulation of salts can provoke the appearance of stones in the bladder.

Symptoms of bladder stones

Quite rarely, urolithiasis occurs in a latent form, most often the presence of stones in the bladder leads to the development of the following symptoms:

Pain when urinating.
Pain syndrome in the area of lumbar back.
Inclusions in the urine of a bloody color.
Pain in the bladder.
Urine darkens and becomes sharp bad smell.
Frequent urge to urinate, especially during sleep.
Incomplete emptying of the bladder.
Urinary incontinence.
When changing the position of the body or increasing physical activity, a sharp pain occurs.
Colic in the kidneys.
When moving towards the exit, large stones can cause an increase in body temperature and chills.

Symptoms of bladder stones in women and men are almost identical. They depend on the location of the calculus and its size. Sometimes the disease occurs as a result of an abnormal structure of the urethra.

The symptoms of bladder stones in men can vary slightly. Pain localized in the lower abdomen or at the level of the pubis. The process of urination may suddenly be interrupted. In this case, the man is tormented by pain in the perineum, genitals or lower back. Sometimes patients do not feel anything in the presence of solid particles in the bladder.

Diagnostics

Stones in the bladder and kidneys can be found even on the most early stage diseases. Both basic and additional diagnostic manipulations are carried out. This requires the use of special equipment and special professional skills of medical personnel.

The main methods for diagnosing urolithiasis are:

Conducting a urine test.
Biochemical blood test and passing a special test to identify the inflammatory process and other changes.
Ultrasound examination of the bladder and kidneys.
Examination of the bladder through the introduction of a cytoscope.

Other diagnostic methods

Symptoms of the release of stones from the bladder appear quite clearly, but there are times when all these diagnostic methods are not enough, so additional manipulations are used, such as:

CT scan.
X-ray examination urinary tract.
X-ray of the kidneys and urography.
Cystogram by injection of a contrast agent.

How to get rid of the symptoms of kidney and bladder stones?

Treatment

Treatment of urolithiasis is prescribed depending on several factors, such as the nature of the calculus, the presence of complications, the general condition of the patient and his age. The nature of the symptoms is also of great importance in therapy.

Preparations

Medical therapy in urolithiasis, it is aimed at solving several problems - relieving pain and eliminating stones. To accomplish these tasks, the following drugs are used:

Antispasmodic drugs such as Spazmalgon, No-shpa, etc.
If the disease is caused by a urinary tract infection, prescribe antibacterial drugs. The main condition is the passage of the calculus through the ureter without damaging its walls.
Preparations aimed at dissolving stones.
Diuretics, the purpose of which is to provoke the release of stones with urine.

If the stone has entered the urethra, then drug treatment will be effective, otherwise conservative therapy will not give the expected result. In addition, it suggests selectivity, that is, the composition of stones affects the effectiveness of therapy.

Food

Another important aspect treatment of urolithiasis is clinical nutrition. It will help normalize general condition patient, prevent the formation of new stones and stop the development of already formed stones. The main rule therapeutic diet is the drinking regimen. This helps to reduce the concentration of urine.

The diet is made by the attending physician on an individual basis, taking into account the composition of the stones. Based on the results of a comprehensive examination, the doctor may exclude certain foods and prescribe a diet:

With calcium formations, as a rule, doctors recommend reducing the consumption of dairy products.
Oxalate stones mean avoiding sorrel, lettuce, potatoes, oranges, milk, and others.
Phosphate stones speak of the need to give up fruits, vegetables and dairy products in favor of meat, fish, pastries and vegetable oil.
Urate stones suggest a reduction in the amount of consumed foods containing uric acid: liver, fish, grapefruit and vegetable fats.

Operation

In some cases, symptoms of bladder stones in women and men may require surgical intervention. As a rule, this happens when the stones are too large and drug treatment does not work. Contraindications to the operation are:

Infectious diseases of the urethra and bladder in acute form.
Operations performed on the pelvic organs.
Obstruction of the urethra in men.

Surgical intervention can be carried out today different ways:

Cytoscopic grinding followed by removal.
Endoscopic method crushing and removing stones.
Lithotripsy. This is the crushing of stones with the help of ultrasound.
Surgical opening of the bladder wall and removal of stones.

Can help with the symptoms of bladder stones folk remedies. However, one should not blindly rely on the experience of ancestors; any therapy must be agreed with the doctor.

Complications

Urolithiasis can lead to infection of the genitourinary system. Self-medication and untimely access to a specialist can provoke the following complications:

Obstruction of the urinary canals.
Nephrological hypertension.
Inflammation in chronic form.
Purulent processes that can lead to anaphylactic shock and death.

Prevention

In most cases, subject to compliance with all the rules and regulations, urolithiasis is successfully cured. However, a relapse is possible, the following will help to avoid it: preventive measures:

Men are required to undergo an examination by a urologist and a nephrologist every year.
Stick to a balanced diet.
Quitting smoking and drinking alcohol.
Moderate physical exercise.
Avoid hypothermia and dress for the weather.
Contact a specialist in a timely manner when the first symptoms of the disease appear.

Conclusion

modern medicine learned successfully and minimal risk complications to remove stones. Therefore, such a diagnosis should not be taken as a sentence. The main thing is not to postpone going to the doctor if there are stones in the bladder. What symptoms indicate their presence, you now know.

Urolithiasis is a pathology associated with the formation of stones (stones) in the bladder, ureters, kidneys or urethra. Bladder stones are more often observed in men aged 45 or more against the background of their prostate pathologies or urethral strictures, etc. Such stone formation is most common in African and Middle Eastern countries, Indonesia, Burma, Thailand, etc.

Classification of stone formation

Stones may be various forms and shades, consistency and chemical composition, as well as to have a multiple or single character. 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, they are rather fragile stones with a soft structure and a light gray tint. Usually they appear as a result of violations of material metabolism;
Oxalate - when oxalic acid salts act as raw materials for stones, these stones have a rough surface and brown color, they can scratch the mucous membrane, which causes pain and stains the urine reddish;
Urate - formed on the basis of uric acid salts, these are smooth calculi that do not injure the mucous membranes, are usually observed in residents of hot countries and occur against the background of gout or dehydration;
Protein - representing protein casts.

In addition, stones can be primary or secondary. In the primary formation of 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.

AT 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 clinic of the condition, indicating stones in the bladder, is rather ambiguous. When the stone just descends into the cavity of the bladder, the patient has renal colic, characterized by acute pain in the lumbar region, which may radiate to the perineum, genitals, or anterior femoral region. When tapping the edge of the palm in the renal region, the patient experiences a sharp pain, or the already existing pain syndrome intensifies. In addition to pain, patients have a pathological change in the qualitative characteristics of urine: sand, various salts, blood impurities, etc. can be found in it.

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

In cases where the pebble has already descended into the cavity of the bladder, or has formed in it, the symptoms will not appear so brightly, although the pathology will still be clear to an experienced doctor. The amount of bloody impurities and sandy calculus in the urine will be insignificant, but the pain will be just as strong. The pain syndrome may be cutting or aching in nature, it may increase in the process of sexual intercourse or urination.

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

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

Syndrome dull pain, often radiating to the penis or scrotum, aggravated by urination;
Bloody impurities in the urine, usually appearing at the end of the emptying of the bladder;
Visual changes in urine, manifested in the form of its turbidity, density or bad smell;
Accelerated, painful and unbearable desire to go to the toilet;
Sudden 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 a sediment in it or pain in lumbar region, it is recommended to immediately visit a urologist in order to establish the cause of the changes.

Where do bladder stones come from?

There is no single and only correct answer to this question. Scientists identify a whole group of 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 vast majority of researchers argue that urinary stone formation is promoted by excess salt content in the body. This does not mean that salts get only with 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 infravesical obstruction, which is a violation of the urine 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, as a result of which stones are formed. Obstacles may appear due to:

Sclerosis, hyperplasia or;
Stenosis of the bladder neck;
Scarring of the urethra;
Stones or sand in the kidneys;
Violations nerve functions Bladder;
Foreign objects in the bladder (catheters, sutures, stents, cystocele or diverticula).

The formation of stones may begin against the background inflammatory pathologies Bladder. The geographic location of a person can also play a significant role in the process of stone formation in the bladder. Thus, in states with a tropical climate, a greater number of patients with urolithiasis than in northern countries.

Therapy of urinary stone formation

The therapeutic process is divided into relief of an attack and general basic treatment. For the relief of an attack are usually used lytic mixtures containing antispasmodic substances. Among them are drugs like No-shpy, Baralgin, Spazmalgon, Papaverine, and so on. Although it is more convenient and easier to accept such medications in the form of tablets, but the experience of physicians proves that the greatest effect is achieved with intramuscular or intravenous injection. Medicines such an action contributes to the relaxation of the walls of the ureter, which facilitates the process of moving the stone along it. But these remedies eliminate only the symptoms of an attack, and do not cure the underlying disease.

Conservative treatment stones implies observance proper diet nutrition and selection medications, suitable for the main composition of the formed stones. Such therapy involves alkalization of urine, as a result of which already formed stones are eliminated and new stones cannot form.

If urate stones are found in the bladder, litholytic therapy is indicated, which involves the dissolution of stones by taking special preparations.

It is possible to get rid of stones in an operative way, although today it is extremely rare to resort to a surgical solution to the problem, since it is possible to eliminate excrement less invasive ways. With a pebble size of 0.5-2 cm, their crushing is shown by means of laser or ultrasonic exposure. It is possible to carry out crushing through a small puncture, i.e., by the contact method. After the stones are crushed, they are washed out with a special liquid.

Methods for the prevention of stone formation

Prevention of stone formation is based on a diet that avoids salty and smoked, fatty and heavily spiced foods, in general, it is recommended to minimize the intake of fats and salt. The drinking regime also needs to be adjusted. It is considered normal if an adult consumes liquid in the amount of 1.5-2.5 liters per day, while there should be about 7-10 urinations.

The prevention of stone formation includes the treatment of inflammation of the bladder and possible pathologies prostate. If there are foreign bodies like stents and catheters, then their timely replacement is necessary. Men over 50 are recommended an annual preventive visit to the urologist. Well bad habits must be eliminated: quit smoking, do not drink alcohol, exclude the use of narcotic substances.