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Bladder stone crushing (endoscopic litholapaxy)
NOTE: Some of the information provided contains graphic, medical images which individuals may find upsetting
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How is the procedure performed?
We usually do this under a general or spinal anaesthetic. We first inspect your bladder with a small telescope, then insert the lithotrite (pictured below) and use it to crush the stone(s) into small fragments. We remove the stone fragments by suction.
Bladder stones often form due to prostate obstruction so it is not unusual for us to discuss whether transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) should be carried out at the same time.
Video - Crushing of bladder stones (litholapaxy)
Features of this video (courtesy of Mr Nigel Bullock)
- The interior lining (pink) of your bladder distended with fluid
- Several bladder stones (creamy yellow) lying on the base of your bladder
- The stone "punch" (silver), used to crush the stones, by gripping the stones between a cutting edge and the outer sheath of the instrument