Endoscopic Bladder Stone Removal in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is endoscopic bladder stone removal?
Endoscopic bladder stone removal is an operation that clears stones from the bladder by working from the inside, through the natural passage that carries urine out of the body. The medical name, cystolitholapaxy, describes the three parts of the job: the bladder (cysto), the stone (litho) and washing it out (lapaxy).
Bladder stones behave differently from kidney stones. Most kidney stones start because the urine carries too much of a mineral. Most bladder stones start because urine stays in the bladder too long. When the bladder empties only partly, minerals settle in the leftover urine and slowly build into a stone, sometimes over years. For that reason the stone and its cause are usually treated together.
At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, the consultant urologist performs cystolitholapaxy as an in-house procedure. It is one of the options described on the kidney stone treatment page, and this page follows the bladder operation itself.
Who needs it
Bladder stones commonly cause pain low in the tummy or at the tip of the penis, a stream that stops suddenly mid-flow, blood in the urine at the end of passing water, and repeated urinary infections. Some stones are found by chance on an ultrasound.
The usual reasons a bladder holds on to urine are:
- an enlarged prostate narrowing the outflow in older men
- a narrowing (stricture) of the urethra
- a bladder whose nerve supply is affected, for example after a spinal injury
- a long-term catheter
- a pouch in the bladder wall where urine collects
- a small kidney stone that travelled down and grew in the bladder
Stone analysis shows which of the four main stone types the hospital identifies is present. Uric acid stones are common in the bladder and link to concentrated, acidic urine. Calcium stones, as calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate, are the most frequent type overall. Struvite stones grow in infected urine. Cystine stones come from an inherited condition and are rare. The type guides the prevention plan afterwards.
The alternatives are open surgery through the lower tummy for a very large stone, or a keyhole route through the skin into the bladder. The urologist weighs the stone's size and hardness, the size of your prostate and urethra, and whether the outflow problem needs treating at the same time. When an enlarged prostate is the cause, the stone and the prostate are often dealt with in one sitting, as described on the prostate surgery page.
What happens
Cystolitholapaxy is done under general anaesthesia or a spinal anaesthetic that numbs you from the waist down. You lie on your back with your legs supported.
The urologist passes a thin telescope, called a cystoscope, along the urethra into the bladder and fills the bladder with sterile fluid to see clearly. The stone is broken into small pieces with a crushing instrument or an energy probe passed through the telescope. The fragments are then flushed out with the fluid and collected, and a sample goes to the laboratory for analysis. The urologist checks the whole bladder lining before finishing.
A urinary catheter is often left in place for a short time to drain the bladder and rinse out small particles and blood. Many people go home the same day or the next day once they pass urine comfortably.
Preparing for it
A urine test checks for infection before the procedure, because infection is treated first. Blood tests and an anaesthetic review confirm you are ready. Bring any previous scans and a list of all your medicines; blood thinners and diabetes medicines each need a clear plan, and you receive fasting instructions for the day.
If you have a long-term catheter, tell the team how it is managed, as the plan may include changing it. If you plan the procedure around Ramadan, raise it early so fasting, fluids and medicines can be timed together.
Afterwards
Some burning when passing urine and pink or lightly blood-stained urine are common for the first days. Drink plenty of water to keep the urine pale and flush out small grit; in the Sharjah heat and in air-conditioned offices, set yourself reminders, because thirst is a poor guide. Desk work usually resumes sooner than driving jobs or heavy manual work, and the urologist gives you a personal plan.
The stone analysis result shapes the next step. The team explains the fluid and diet advice for your stone type, covered on the kidney stone prevention page, and follow-up checks that the bladder now empties well.
Contact the hospital urgently if the urine turns red with clots, if you develop a fever or shivers, or if pain keeps rising. **Go to the emergency department straight away if you are unable to pass urine and your lower tummy becomes swollen and painful.**
Cost and insurance
Most UAE insurance plans cover cystolitholapaxy when a stone is confirmed on imaging, and the procedure usually needs pre-approval, supported by the scan report and urine results. When a prostate or urethral procedure is done in the same session, the insurer often assesses it as a separate item. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you confirm your cover and start the approval early on 06 599 7777.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
What are the risks of endoscopic bladder stone removal?
Endoscopic bladder stone removal carries the risks of any procedure through the urethra, including bleeding, urinary infection, a reaction to the anaesthetic, and, rarely, a small tear in the bladder wall. Small fragments can occasionally remain and need a second procedure. A narrowing of the urethra can develop later. Your urologist explains how these risks apply to you.
Can bladder stones come back after they are removed?
Bladder stones can come back if the reason urine stays in the bladder is left untreated. Treating an enlarged prostate or a urethral narrowing, drinking enough, and following advice for your stone type all lower the chance of a new stone.
Can a bladder stone be dissolved with medicine?
A uric acid bladder stone can sometimes be dissolved with medicine that makes the urine less acidic, but this is slow and suits only that stone type. Calcium, struvite and cystine stones usually need removal.
Is lithotripsy used for bladder stones?
Shock-wave lithotripsy is rarely the main treatment for bladder stones, because the fragments still have to leave a bladder that empties poorly. Crushing the stone through a cystoscope and washing the pieces out clears the bladder in one step.
Will I have a catheter after bladder stone removal?
Many people have a urinary catheter for a short time after bladder stone removal, to drain the bladder and rinse out blood and grit. The team removes it once the urine is clear and checks that you pass urine well.
Do women get bladder stones?
Women get bladder stones less often than men, because they have no prostate to block the outflow. When a woman has a bladder stone, the urologist looks for a cause such as a bladder that empties poorly or a stitch or mesh from earlier surgery.
Why does my stone need to be analysed?
Stone analysis tells the urologist whether the stone is calcium, uric acid, struvite or cystine, and each type needs different prevention advice. Without the analysis, the prevention plan is guesswork.
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