Is it easy to pass ureteral stones?

Speaking of stones, I believe everyone is familiar with them. The most common stones are gallstones. In fact, there are also ureteral stones. Gallstones seem to be a very common disease, and everyone knows that if gallstones can be treated with strict diet and regular check-ups, there will be no big problem. If the condition is really serious, surgery can be chosen. Many people have never heard of ureteral stones. If the ureteral stones reach the end, which is the narrowest part, there may be problems in excreting the stones. So, are the stones at the end of the ureter easy to excrete?

1. Is it easy to pass ureteral stones?

There is no definite answer to the question of whether ureteral stones are easy to pass. The size of the stones and the patient's own condition will make a difference in the passage of stones. As long as there is no hydronephrosis, there is no strict time limit. If bladder irritation occurs, it means that the stone has reached the ureteral orifice. The end of the ureter is the narrowest place, so even if it reaches the end of the ureter, it may not be able to be discharged. If that doesn't work, do a ureteroscopy. The operation is not minor and the effect is very good.

2. Surgery to remove stones

If the stones are small, they may be discharged from the body on their own. Non-surgical methods such as drug therapy can be tried first. Some stones are slightly larger or difficult to be discharged from the body on their own, but other methods can be tried first, such as intraureteral pneumatic lithotripsy or extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. Stones at the ureteral opening can be removed through cystoscopy using stone forceps. If the stones have been diagnosed for a long time and various non-surgical treatments have been tried without success, and if there is obvious fluid accumulation above the stones, surgical treatment should be given priority.

3. Ureteral terminal stone removal surgery:

The general steps of the operation are as follows: ① If the stone is at the opening of the ureter, it can usually be removed with lithotomy forceps or biopsy forceps under cystoscopic observation. ② If the stone is visible but cannot be removed with forceps, you can wait for a while or perform this stone-removing operation again. ③ If a bulge is seen in the wall segment of the ureter under cystoscopy, it is estimated that the stone is indeed in the wall segment, and endoscopic catheterization and electrohydraulic lithotripsy can be tried.

Currently, this type of disease is mostly treated through ureteroscopy with lithotripsy, and open surgery is relatively rare.