Cystoscopy is a procedure to examine the urinary bladder, usually done on an outpatient basis with anesthesia to minimize pain. A lighted cystoscope is inserted into the urethra to view the bladder’s internal structure, and a biopsy or stent removal may be performed. The patient may experience discomfort and an urge to urinate during the exam, and observation time after the procedure varies depending on the anesthesia used.
The typical cystoscopy procedure is done to examine the urinary bladder in both men and women. It is done on an outpatient basis, and most people are able to go home within one to four hours of completing the exam. The anesthetic is usually given before the exam to eliminate any possible pain or discomfort.
Before the procedure, a person will be asked to arrive an hour before the appointment to provide a urine sample. After being shown to the examination room, the patient will remove her clothes, put on a cloth or paper gown and lie down on the examination table or with her feet in stirrups, depending on the instrument used. The urologist will then spread a sheet over the patient’s lower half of the body, cleanse the genital area, ask the patient to relax, and then administer local, general, or spinal anesthesia to minimize pain and discomfort.
During the cystoscopy procedure, your urologist will insert a lighted cystoscope, which is a long, thin hand-held instrument with a built-in photographic lens that may be flexible or rigid, into your urethra. As the tool advances along the urethra, a slight burning or stinging sensation may be felt. If the urethra is too narrow for the cystoscope to pass through, a series of small surgical instruments can be inserted into an empty space inside the cystoscope to slowly widen the diameter of the urethra.
The urologist will continue to advance the cystoscope until it reaches the bladder. A sterile fluid can be added slowly to the bladder through the empty space in the cystoscope. Adding fluid to the bladder will cause the walls of the bladder to expand, allowing the urologist to get a clear view of the internal structure of the organ. Bladder enlargement usually causes a very uncomfortable urge to urinate that lasts for the rest of the exam. If a biopsy or stent removal is scheduled, your urologist will do it at this time.
Once the lower urinary tract has been examined, the urologist will gently withdraw the cystoscope from the urethra. There may be some discomfort when the tool is removed. The genital area is then cleaned of any fluid or lubricant used during the exam.
Depending on the anesthetic used during the cystoscopy procedure, the amount of time a patient will need to be observed after the procedure varies. If a local anesthetic was used, the patient will be able to get dressed and leave shortly after dressing. When a general or spinal anesthetic is used during the cystoscopy procedure, you will need to be observed one to four hours after the exam. Another person will need to be available to drive you home after general or spinal anaesthesia.
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