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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffBladder stones that aren't removed — even those that don't cause symptoms — can lead to complications, such as:
- Chronic bladder dysfunction. Left untreated, bladder stones can cause long-term urinary problems, such as pain or frequent urination. Bladder stones can also lodge in the opening where urine exits the bladder into the urethra, and block the passage of urine from your body.
- Urinary tract infections. Recurring bacterial infections in your urinary tract may be caused by bladder stones.
- Bladder cancer. Chemicals or objects that cause chronic irritation of the bladder wall, including bladder stones, increase your risk of bladder cancer.
References
- Managing bladder dysfunction. Clinical Center: National Institutes of Health. http://clinicalcenter.nih.gov/ccc/patient_education/pepubs/bladder/bladder7_9.pdf.Accessed Oct. 4, 2008.
- Weinstein AJ. Urinary calculi (stones/urolithiasis/nephrolithiasis). In: Weber CG. The Clinical Medicine Consult. Pacific Primary Care; 2008. http://clinicalmedconsult.com. Accessed Oct. 4, 2008.
- Pearle MS, et al. Urologic diseases in America: Urolithiasis. National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse.http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/statistics/uda/Urolithiasis-Chapter08.pdf. Accessed Oct. 4, 2008.
- Medical management of stone disease. American Urological Association. http://www.urologyhealth.org/search/index.cfm?topic=102&search=bladder%20AND%20stones&searchtype=and. Accessed Oct. 4, 2008.
- Hammad FT, et al. Bladder calculi: Did the clinical picture change? Urology. 2006;67(6):1154-1158.
- Garcia Cardozo JV, et al. Bladder calculi: Is extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy the first treatment choice? Archives of Spanish Urology. 2003;56(10):1111-1116.
- Gravel root. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Oct. 5, 2008.
- Stone root. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Oct. 5, 2008.
- Hydrangea arborescens. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Oct. 5, 2008.
- Ellis H. A history of bladder stone. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 1979;72(4):248-251.
