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Cystoscopy

Test Overview

A cystoscopy, Opens dialog is a procedure that lets a doctor look inside your bladder and urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to outside the body.

The doctor uses a thin, lighted tool called a cystoscope. With this tool, the doctor can look for kidney or bladder stones. The doctor can also look for tumors, bleeding, or infection.

If you are in a clinic and you are awake, you may get gel to numb your urethra. This makes the procedure more comfortable. Then the doctor puts the cystoscope into your urethra and moves it into your bladder. Next, the doctor fills your bladder with liquid. This helps the doctor see better. It may cause you to feel pressure in your bladder area for a short time.

If you are in the hospital, you may get medicine to make you sleep during the procedure. While you are asleep, the doctor can take samples of tissue. These will be checked for cancer and other problems. This is called a biopsy. If you have a biopsy, you may have a small amount of blood in your urine for several days. You may also need a catheter. It's a tube that drains urine from your bladder. Your doctor will take it out at your follow-up visit.

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Current as of: April 30, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

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All Ignite Healthwise, LLC education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

 

PeaceHealth endeavors to provide comprehensive health care information, however some topics in this database describe services and procedures not offered by our providers or within our facilities because they do not comply with, nor are they condoned by, the ethics policies of our organization.