Cystoscopy
CystoscopyArticle SectionsDefinitionCystoscopy is a procedure used to see inside your urinary bladder and urethra — the tube that carries urine from your bladder to the outside of your body. During a cystoscopy (sis-TOS-kuh-pee) 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, also called cystourethroscopy, may be performed as an outpatient procedure using local anesthesia to numb your urethra. Or cystoscopy can be performed in the hospital using regional or general anesthesia. The type of cystoscopy you undergo depends on the reason for your procedure. Female cystoscopyCystoscopy allows your doctor to view your lower urinary tract to look for abnormalities, such as a bladder stone. Surgical tools can be passed through the cystoscope to treat certain urinary tract ...  CystoscopyCystoscopy allows your doctor to view your lower urinary tract to look for abnormalities in your urethra and bladder. Surgical tools can be passed through the cystoscope to treat certain urinary ...  Why it's doneCystoscopy is used to diagnose, monitor and treat conditions affecting the bladder and urethra. Common reasons your doctor may recommend a cystoscopy include:
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. Ureteroscopy uses a smaller scope to examine your ureters — the tubes that carry urine from your kidneys to your bladder. Male urinary systemYour bladder stores urine produced by your kidneys and expels it through a tube called the urethra. In men, the urethral opening is at the tip of the penis. ...  Female urinary systemYour bladder stores urine produced by your kidneys and expels it through a tube called the urethra. In women, the urethral opening is above the vagina. ...  RisksCystoscopy carries a risk of complications, including:
Signs and symptoms of a complication
How you prepareTo prepare for your cystoscopy exam, your health care team may ask that you:
Prepare for sedation or anesthesia
What you can expect
During the cystoscopy In certain cases, you may receive a sedative or an anesthetic medication through a vein in your arm before the cystoscopy procedure. If you receive a sedative, you'll feel sleepy and relaxed during the cystoscopy, but you'll still be aware. If you receive a general anesthetic during the cystoscopy, you won't be aware during the procedure. A numbing jelly will be applied to your urethra so that you feel less pain when the cystoscope is inserted. After waiting a few minutes for the numbing to occur, your doctor feeds the cystoscope into your urethra. Several sizes of cystoscopes are available, and your doctor will choose the smallest scope possible for your procedure. Smaller scopes are often used for investigating causes of signs and symptoms. Larger scopes may be necessary to take tissue samples or pass surgical tools into the bladder. As the cystoscope passes through your urethra and toward your bladder, your doctor will look through a lens on the end of the cystoscope. The lens works like a telescope to magnify the inner surfaces of your urethra and your bladder. In some cases, your doctor may place a special video camera over the lens that projects the images onto a video screen. Once the cystoscope reaches your bladder, your doctor will flood the bladder with a sterile solution. The solution inflates the bladder and allows your doctor to get a better look at the inside of the entire structure. As your bladder fills, you may feel the need to urinate. This can be an uncomfortable feeling. As soon as your cystoscopy is complete, you'll be allowed to empty your bladder. Depending on your situation, your doctor may take tissue samples or perform various procedures during the cystoscopy. Once these are complete, the cystoscope is withdrawn through your urethra. A simple outpatient cystoscopy may take less than five minutes. When done in a hospital setting with sedation or general anesthesia, cystoscopy can take 10 to 30 minutes.
After the cystoscopy You'll likely experience some side effects after cystoscopy, such as:
You can relieve some of the discomfort if you:
Call your doctor if you have concerns after your cystoscopy. Female cystoscopyCystoscopy allows your doctor to view your lower urinary tract to look for abnormalities, such as a bladder stone. Surgical tools can be passed through the cystoscope to treat certain urinary tract ... CystoscopyCystoscopy allows your doctor to view your lower urinary tract to look for abnormalities in your urethra and bladder. Surgical tools can be passed through the cystoscope to treat certain urinary ... ResultsIn some cases, your doctor may be able to discuss the results of your cystoscopy immediately after your procedure. In other cases, your doctor may discuss your results at a follow-up appointment. For instance, if your cystoscopy involved collecting a tissue sample (biopsy) to test for bladder cancer, your doctor will send that sample to a laboratory. When the tests are completed, your doctor will let you know the results. Ask your doctor when you can expect the results of your cystoscopy. Last Updated: 2010-07-20 © 1998-2013 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "Mayo Clinic Health Information," "Reliable information for a healthier life" and the triple-shield Mayo logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
Terms and conditions of use |
|
|
|
|
