A cystoscopy is a commonly used medical procedure that helps doctors with a telescopic inspection of the bladder and urethra of the male urinary tract. The procedure is primarily used in diagnosis of conditions such as bladder tumors and gallstones. There are two types of cystoscopies - the rigid cystoscope and the flexible cystoscope. The rigid cystoscope type incorporates a solid, straight telescope that has a high intensity light source towards the tip. This side is inserted into the patient's body along with a separate channel that allows for small, high precision instruments to be attached.
The flexible cystoscopy is the more preferred option when dealing with bladder tumors and the fiber optic instrument bends easily in order to aid maneuverability while passing along the curves of the urethra. Considering that the instrument is inserted, in most cases, through the urethra, some amount of pain and discomfort is to be expected. The flexible cystoscope, when inserted through the urethra does not generally require the administration of an anesthetic, but some amount of lubrication may be required to ease the insertion of the instrument into the urethra. The organs that can be examined with the help of a cystoscope include the urethra, bladder and the ureters - which are essentially the small intestinal tubes that help transport the urine created in the kidneys to the bladder.
Once the cystoscope has been inserted into the urethra, the doctor will check primarily for any narrowing of the organ as well as for any possible obstructions while passing through the prostate. The mucous membrane is then checked to see if it is irritated or pale as well as being inspected for the presence of polyps, growths, tumors, bulges or wounds. The doctor will be able to view the internal organs and structures with the help of visuals on a computer screen that is fed by a transmission from a tiny camera located at the tip of the cystoscope that is inside the patient's urinary tract. The entire procedure should not take more than about 20 minutes at the most, although may take longer in the event that the physician is required to extract some stones or tissue samples.
As with any medical procedure, there is always the chance of side effects. The more common ones when undergoing a cystoscopy include a burning sensation during urination as well as the presence of some blood content in the passed urine. If the medical staff chose to use local anesthesia, the patient is allowed to return home immediately following the end of the procedure, but in the case of general anesthesia, the patient will require some amount of rest till the effects of the sedatives and anesthesia have died down - which could take up to 4 hours.
Submitted by N S on March 24, 2010 at 11:55