Learn about Cystoscopy!
Cystoscopy Bladder Scope Test
What is a cystoscopy?
A cystoscopy is a test to check the health of your urethra and bladder. You might also hear it called a cysto-urethroscopy or, more simply, a bladder scope.
Cystoscopy is a procedure that uses an instrument called a Cystoscope to look at the lining of the bladder (the area where urine is stored), the opening of the ureters (the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder), and the urethra (the tube that runs from the bladder to the outside of the body).
How Does the Test Work?
The Cystoscope is a thin instrument with a lens at the end so the inside of the bladder can be seen. It is usually attached to a television screen. The procedure is an outpatient test, which means you can get it at your doctor’s office, or clinic and hospital the same day. It may or may not require anesthesia, and it lasts for approximately 10-15 minutes.
The doctor inserts a tube into your urethra.
Who might need a cystoscopy?
The urologist may recommend a cystoscopy if you experience:
• Bladder control issues, such as urinary retention (being unable to empty the bladder all the way) or incontinence (Leaking or peeing when you aren’t trying, or pain when you pee)
• Bladder stones.
• Blood in urine (hematuria).
• Frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs), to find the cause of frequent urinary tract infections
• Painful urination (dysuria).
• Difficulty in passing urine – which may be due to prostate enlargement or a narrowing (stricture) of the urethra.
• Diagnose an enlarged prostate
• Diagnose bladder diseases like bladder cancer, that needs treating (including some early cancers)
• Bladder stones, and bladder inflammation (cystitis)
• Treat conditions: Removal of small tumors through the cystoscopy
• To monitor progress of conditions: Some patients have a routine cystoscopy after treatment for a bladder tumor.
What to Expect Before the cystoscopy
•No special preparations are required.
•You may eat, drink, and take your medication as usual.
What to Expect during the cystoscopy
1. You will remove any clothing, jewelry, or other objects and you will be given a gown to wear
2. You’ll lie down on an exam table on your back with your knees up and spread apart
3. You might get an IV (intravenous) line for sedative medications: if the cystoscopy is under anesthesia (in the hospital)
4. This will make you sleepy and not feel pain during the cystoscopy. In this case, your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and blood oxygen level will be watched during the procedure.
5. The cystoscope is inserted through the urethra into the bladder with a liquid or gel anesthetic is used during the insertion of the cystoscope to minimize pain or discomfort (In the Clinic).
6. If you’re a man, the opening is at the end of your penis.
7. If you’re a woman, it’s just above your vagina.
8. The test lets your doctor check the complete length of your urethra and the bladder for polyps, narrow areas called strictures, abnormal growths, and other problems.
9. Water or saline is infused through the cystoscope into the bladder. While the fluid fills the bladder, the wall of the bladder become stretched so the urologist can see clearly.
10. The Doctor will ask you how it feels when your bladder is full.
11. In case of an abnormal tissue is seen, the doctor will use the cystoscope to cut a small piece to send it to the lab for analysis. They’ll call this a biopsy or tissue sample.
12. Discomfort and pain during cystoscopy:
• You may feel discomfort when the cystoscope goes into the urethra and bladder; a strong need to pee when your bladder gets full.
• You may feel a slight squeeze if the doctor takes a tissue sample (Biopsy)
13. At the end of the procedure, the cystoscope is removed and you can empty your bladder.
What to Expect After the Cystoscopy
• You should drink plenty of fluids to flush out your bladder.
• You may experience some of the following:
• Blood-colored urine. This should go away in 2 to 3 days.
• Burning sensation with urination for 2-3 days
• Discomfort with urination for 2-3 days
Possible Complications of cystoscopy
• Infection
• Bleeding
• Urinary retention due to irritation and swelling from the procedure
• Bladder perforation (poking a hole in the bladder with the cystoscope)
When to contact your doctor or the clinic
if you notice any of the following after the cystoscopy:
• Shaking Chills or Fever: Sign of infection
• Bright red urine
• Peeing less than usual
• Worsening pain or discomfort on urination
• Lower back pain
• An inability to urinate
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