Cystoscopy
Valeria Dahm is a freelance writer in the medical department. She studied medicine at the Technical University of Munich. It is particularly important to her to give the curious reader an insight into the exciting subject area of medicine and at the same time to maintain the content.
More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.In a cystoscopy, the bladder is examined with the help of a special endoscopic instrument, the cystoscope. The doctor inserts the instrument through the urethra. Read all about a cystoscopy, how it is performed and the risks involved.
What is a cystoscopy?
The cystoscopy is a urological examination in which the doctor inserts a so-called cystoscope through the urethra into the bladder. The cystoscope consists of a thin, elastic tube that is connected to a small camera. With this instrument, the doctor can view the inside of the bladder and urethra.
Rigid cystoscopes can also be used to insert additional instruments through a canal and take tissue samples or perform operations.
The use of flexible cystoscopes is more comfortable for the patient because they better follow the bends in the urethra. They are mainly used for male uroscopy. Operations are not possible with this.
In the so-called urethraloscopy (urethrocystoscopy), the urethra is also examined.
When do you do a cystoscopy?
A cystoscopy is used for diseases or unexplained findings of the urinary bladder or urethra. These include:
- Blood in the urine (hematuria)
- Tumors
- Stones and narrowing (strictures) of the urethra
- anatomical changes in the urinary bladder and urethra
- Inflammation of the mucous membrane in the urethra
- Change in sphincter function in men
If tumors are suspected, a tissue sample (biopsy) can be taken during the cystoscopy. Superficial tumors can be removed using an electric snare. Bladder and ureter stones can also be removed with a loop or by smashing them.
What do you do with a cystoscopy?
The diagnostic uroscopy is an outpatient procedure and you can go home after the exam. The doctor will first collect your medical history and ask you, for example, about coagulation disorders or whether you are taking anticoagulant medication. The urine is examined for signs of inflammation or infection.
After disinfecting the urethral opening and its surroundings, the doctor applies a local anesthetic lubricant to the urethra.The cystoscope is slowly pushed through the urethra into the urinary bladder, which is then filled with an irrigation solution. This will allow the bladder to unfold and the doctor can inspect the mucous membrane. If tissue samples are to be taken or tumors removed, the doctor inserts additional instruments through the working channel of the cystoscope. The actual cystoscopy only takes a few minutes.
Since the female urethra is only three to four centimeters, the urethra is easier for women than for men whose urethra is 25 to 30 centimeters long and not straight. For this reason, flexible cystoscopes are preferred for men.
What are the risks of a cystoscopy?
The cystoscopy is a relatively uncomplicated examination. However, despite the anesthetic, the cystoscopy can be painful and lead to a burning sensation when urinating in the first few hours after the examination.
Introduced germs sometimes cause bladder infections, which are treated with antibiotics. The cystoscope can damage the lining of the bladder and urethra. Irritation of the bladder sphincter sometimes temporarily leads to uncontrolled leakage of urine (incontinence). Inflammation of the kidneys or the prostate can occur very rarely.
What should I watch out for after a cystoscopy?
After the cystoscopy, you should drink a lot so that possible pathogens are flushed out when you urinate. The burning sensation and pain should go away on their own after a short time. Blood in the urine is also not unusual at first, as the cystoscopy can cause minor injuries to the mucous membrane. However, if your symptoms do not improve or even worsen, you should consult a doctor immediately.
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