Cystoscopy

Cystoscopy, also called cystourethroscopy, is a procedure used to see inside your bladder and urethra .During a cystoscopy procedure, your doctor uses a hollow scope (cystoscope) equipped with a lens to carefully examine the lining of your bladder and your urethra. The cystoscope is inserted into your urethra and slowly advanced into your bladder.

Cystoscopy may be performed as an outpatient procedure under local anesthetic or in a hospital using regional or general anesthesia. The type of cystoscopy you undergo depends on the reason for your procedure.

When do you need Cystoscopy?

Cystoscopy is used to diagnose, monitor and treat conditions affecting the bladder and urethra.

Your doctor may recommend cystoscopy when:

• Investigating causes of bladder signs and symptoms. Cystoscopy may help your doctor learn the causes of signs and symptoms such as blood in the urine, frequent urinary tract infections, incontinence, overactive bladder and painful urination,
• Diagnosing bladder and urinary tract diseases and conditions - A cystoscopy may be used in diagnosing bladder cancer, bladder stones and bladder inflammation (cystitis),
• Treating bladder diseases and conditions - Special tools can be passed through the cystoscope to treat a bladder disease or condition. For instance, very small bladder tumors may be removed during cystoscopy, and
• Diagnosing an enlarged prostate - A cystoscopy may reveal a narrowing of the urethra where it passes through the prostate gland, indicating an enlarged prostate.

In certain cases, your doctor may conduct a procedure called ureteroscopy to examine your urinary tract beyond your bladder at the same time as your cystoscopy.

What are the Risks in Cystoscopy?

Cystoscopy is one of the few medical procedures that carry a high risk of complications. Some of these risks and complication include:

1. Infection - Cystoscopy can introduce germs into your urinary tract, which can cause infection. Cystoscopy may also irritate an existing urinary tract infection, worsening it. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to take before and after your cystoscopy to prevent infection.
2. Bleeding - Cystoscopy usually causes some blood in your urine, but in rare cases, bleeding may be more serious.
3. Pain - Cystoscopy may cause abdominal pain and a burning sensation when urinating. In most cases, these symptoms are mild and gradually decrease after the procedure.

You should call your doctor or go to the nearest emergency room if you experience an inability to urinate more than eight hours after cystoscopy or have blood clots or bright red blood in your urine more than five hours after cystoscopy. You should also do the same for pain or burning during urination that lasts more than two days.

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