Cystoscopy
When a patient has a urinary problem, the doctor may use a cystoscope to see the inside of the bladder and urethra.
The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body.
The cystoscope has lenses like a telescope or microscope. These lenses let the doctor focus on the inner surfaces of the urinary tract. Some cystoscopes use optical fibres (flexible glass fibres) that carry an image from the tip of the instrument to a viewing piece at the other end. The cystoscope is as thick as a pencil and has a light at the tip. Many cystoscopes have extra tubes to guide other instruments for surgical procedures to treat urinary problems.
There are two main types of cystoscopy - flexible and rigid - differing in the flexibility of the cystoscope. Flexible cystoscopy is carried out using local anaesthesia on both sexes. Typically, lidocaine gel (such as the brand name Instillagel) is used as an anaesthetic, instilled in the urethra. Rigid cystoscopy can be performed under the same conditions, but is generally carried out under general anaesthesia, particularly in male subjects, due to the pain caused by the probe.
Test Procedures Doctors may have special instructions, but in most cases, patients are able to eat normally and return to normal activities after the test.
Patients are sometimes asked to give a urine sample before the test to check for infection.
These patients should avoid urinating for an hour before this part of the test.
Patients will have to remove their clothing covering the lower part of the body, although some doctors may prefer if the patient wears a hospital gown for the examination and covers the lower part of the body with a sterile drape.
In most cases, patients lie on their backs with their knees slightly parted. Occasionally, a patient may also need to have their knees raised.
A doctor, nurse or technician will clean the area around the urethral opening and apply a local anesthetic.
Patients receiving a ureteroscopy may receive a spinal or general anaesthetic.
The doctor will gently insert the tip of the cystoscope into the urethra and slowly glide it up into the bladder. Men will likely feel a couple of pinches as the scope passes through the prostate into the bladder.
Relaxing the pelvic muscles helps make this part of the test easier.
A sterile liquid (water, saline, or glycine solution) will flow through the cystoscope to slowly fill the bladder and stretch it so that the doctor has a better view of the bladder wall.
As the bladder reaches capacity, patients typically feel some mild discomfort and the urge to urinate.
The time from insertion of the cystoscope to removal may be only a few minutes, or it may be longer if the doctor finds a stone and decides to remove it.
Taking a biopsy (a small tissue sample for examination under a microscope) will also make the procedure last longer. In most cases, the entire examination, including preparation, will take about 15 to 20 minutes.
After the test, patients often have some burning feeling when they urinate and often see small amounts of blood in their urine. Occasionally, patients may feel some lower abdominal pains, reflecting bladder muscle spasms, but these are not common.
- Links
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cystoscopy
- Relevant Specialties
- Urology
- Medical Conditions
- Interstitial cystitis
- Urinary tract infection
- Incontinence
