Cystoscopy and Ureteroscopy (cont.)
Preparation
Ask your doctor about any special instructions. In most
cases, you will be able to eat normally and return to normal activities after
the test.
Since any medical procedure has a small risk of injury, you will need to sign
a consent form before the test. Do not hesitate to ask your doctor about any
concerns you might have.
You may be asked to give a urine
sample before the test to check for infection. Avoid urinating for an hour
before this part of the test.
You will wear a hospital gown for the examination, and the lower part of your
body will be covered with a sterile drape. In most cases, you will lie on your
back with your knees raised and apart. A nurse or technician will clean the area
around your urethral opening and apply a local anesthetic.
If you are going to have a ureteroscopy, you may receive a spinal or general
anesthetic. If you know this is the case, you will want to arrange a ride home
after the test.
Test procedures
The doctor will gently insert the tip of the cystoscope
into your urethra and slowly glide it up into the bladder. Relaxing your pelvic
muscles will help make this part of the test easier. A sterile liquid (water or
saline) will flow through the cystoscope to slowly fill your bladder and stretch
it so that the doctor has a better view of the bladder wall.
As your bladder reaches capacity, you will feel some discomfort and the urge
to urinate. You will be able to empty your bladder as soon as the examination is
over.
The time from insertion of the cystoscope to removal may be only a few
minutes, or it may be longer if the doctor finds a stone and decides to remove
it. Taking a biopsy (a small tissue sample for examination under a microscope)
will also make the procedure last longer. In most cases, the entire examination,
including preparation, will take about 15 to 20 minutes.
Next: What are side effects of the procedure? What is the recovery time for cystoscopy and ureteroscopy? »
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