Cystoscopy

What Is It?

Cystoscopy is a procedure that allows doctors to look inside the bladder and the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder. A cystoscope is a tubelike instrument with lenses, a camera and a light on one end and an eyepiece on the other. With a cystoscope, your doctor can examine the urethra and the lining of the bladder. If necessary, your doctor can pass surgical instruments through the cystoscope to perform specific procedures. In most cases, a simple cystoscopy lasts 15 minutes; procedures that are more complex take longer.

What It's Used For

Cystoscopy checks inside the bladder for tumors, sites of bleeding, signs of infection, stones (calculi) and causes of bladder outlet obstruction. It can be used to evaluate people with incontinence (involuntary urinating) by checking for tumors, cysts or stones. It also can be used to:

• Remove a sample of a bladder tumor to be examined in a laboratory — This procedure is called a biopsy.
• Remove some types of bladder tumors
• Obtain a urine sample from the ureters (two tubes that carry urine from each kidney to the bladder) — This enables doctors to check for infection or tumor involving only one kidney.
• Remove a stone (calculi) from the bladder or ureter
• Insert a stent (a small tube) into the ureter to widen the pathway and relieve an obstruction (caused by a stone, scarring or a narrowing of the ureter.)
• Perform an X-ray procedure in which the cystoscope carries a dye to the kidney to show the path of urine and pinpoint areas of obstruction — This procedure is called retrograde pyelography.

Preparation

Your doctor will review your medical and surgical histories, current medications and history of allergies. If you may be pregnant, tell your doctor about this before the procedure.

You will need to drink plenty of fluids before the procedure. Depending on the reason for your cystoscopy, you may also need to use enemas and/or laxatives to clear your bowels.

In most cases, you will be awake during the procedure. If you need general anesthesia (meaning you will be unconscious during the procedure), your doctor will tell you not to eat or drink for a specific amount of time before the procedure.

How It's Done

Your vital signs (temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure) will be monitored and recorded throughout the procedure. You lie on your back on an examination table, bend your knees and slide your feet into two metal stirrups. The area around your urethra is cleaned thoroughly. An intravenous (IV) line may be inserted into one of your veins to administer fluids and medications, including drugs that allow you to remain awake and pain-free.