Cystolithotripsy (laser):

Cystolithotripsy using laser is a minimally invasive procedure used for the extraction of the bladder stone. This is a newer method to avoid the open cystolithotomy, which is more invasive and need a larger recovery time.

Indications for laser cystolithotripsy can be the formation of stone within the urinary bladder due to incomplete bladder emptying, urinary stasis or chronic bladder infections. Over time, when the urine is avoided, then sediment and urinary minerals can result in a bladder calculus.

Laser cystolithotripsy needs some preparations. Your doctor will suggest you to take some specific medicines and to stop some including any blood thinner.

The laser cystolithotripsy procedure is usually performed under general anaesthesia. Your surgeon will pass a small cystoscope through the urethra and into the urinary bladder. Then stone may be grabbed with a basket device and removed from the urethra. But in the case of larger stone, the stone is fragmented into multiple smaller pieces using a laser.

You will need an overnight hospital stay, but you have to take oral antibiotics for 4 to 5 days. The complete recovery from laser cystolithotripsy will take more than a week.

Complication of laser cystolithotripsy procedure include bladder pain, urinary tract infections, and ureteral injury.