Endoscopic cystolithotripsy is a minimally invasive method for treating bladder stones. Using a thin endoscopic instrument inserted through the urethra, without external incisions, the stone is located and fragmented using laser into small pieces, which are then removed or passed naturally through urination.
The procedure offers high effectiveness, a short hospital stay, and a quick return of the patient to daily activities. At the same time, it is important to investigate and treat the underlying cause of stone formation, such as urinary obstruction due to prostate enlargement, in order to reduce the risk of recurrence.
How Endoscopic Cystolithotripsy is Performed
The procedure is usually performed under regional (spinal) or general anesthesia. The urologist inserts a cystoscope through the urethra into the bladder. Using the instrument’s high-definition camera, he accurately identifies the size and location of the stone.
The stone is then fragmented with laser, using the same two-phase pulse principle described above: the first, small pulse passes through the water and creates a small “pathway” (a guide bubble), and the second pulse travels through this pathway and strikes the stone directly with maximum energy efficiency.
Once the stone is fragmented, the fragments are removed from the bladder either with special instruments (baskets/forceps) or through continuous fluid flow (suction/irrigation).
At the end of the procedure, the doctor checks the inside of the bladder for any remaining fragments, and a temporary catheter is usually placed for 1–2 days, to allow the remaining fragments to clear and the urethra to heal.
Advantages:
- Non-invasive: no surgical incision required, meaning faster recovery and less pain
- Immediate results: the patient is cleared of the stone in a single session
- Same-day discharge or with only one overnight stay
