A cystoscopy is performed to allow the doctor a broad view of the bladder from the inside. Many of our patients will undergo a cystoscopy at some point as part of their care plan, although this will depend on your individual clinical complaint. This procedure provides the doctor with a better understanding of the nature and origin of your complaint.
The cystoscopy is one of several in-office tests the doctor performs as part of each patient’s individual care plan and in order to best determine what kind of treatment (surgical or non-surgical) they may need.
What to expect:
The cystoscopy consists of the doctor inserting a scope, which is like a catheter. The scope has a very camera attached to the end — the size of a 14 French catheter. While he inserts the scope into the urethra, the doctor will backfill the bladder with 300 mL of sterile saline water. The water allows the doctor to get an excellent view of how the bladder looks inside in order to determine whether or not there are any abnormalities.
With this procedure, he is also able to judge examine whether the bladder is healthy and determine whether the ureters, where the urine comes out from the kidneys, are working properly. In all, the cystoscopy gives the doctor the opportunity to literally see the condition of the bladder from the inside. There is no need to stop taking any medications prior to the test.
You may be nervous thinking about this test. Please don’t be! We do what we can to make the procedure as comfortable as possible! You may experience soreness following the cystoscopy, but the procedure itself should not be uncomfortable or painful. We are trying to obtain vital information to ensure we are doing the right thing for you! Your safety is our first priority, and we want to know all we can in order to develop the best treatment plan for each individual case.
Thank you for choosing PFI for your care! We will do everything we can to ensure your safety and develop the best personalized plan of care for you!