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What is a cystectomy?
(May 27, 2010)
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Cystectomy Definition
A cystectomy is a medical procedure that involves the removal of the urinary bladder. It can also refer to a removal of a part of, or of a tumor from the urinary bladder. It is generally performed on a patient who is suffering from urinary bladder cancer. The urinary bladder is the sac that is used by the body to store urine that has been produced as a waste product in the kidneys. Urine enters the bladder from either kidney and is then stored there until there is a sufficient quantity collected. Once the quantity is enough, a person is likely to feel like urinating, because of the signal that is sent to the brain. The brain then controls the sphincter muscle, which is essentially like a drain valve. This muscle is in a constantly contracted position, holding the urine within the bladder. When urination occurs, the muscle opens allowing urine to pass through. At the same time, the bladder, which is made of muscular tissue, tends to contract in order to expel the urine with force so that urination is rapid. This muscular pressure is also used to ensure that urine is expelled away from the body and does not dribble out of the body. In both sexes, the urine is expelled through the urethra which is the tube that is connected to the outer end of the urinary sphincter muscle. The urethra ends in an opening which is at the head of the penis, in men, and below the clitoris, in women.
During medical testing, a patient may be diagnosed with cancer. When the cancer is located in the bladder, a cystectomy may be performed. In the initial stage, the cancer tumors may be small and may not have invaded the organ completely. In such a situation, the procedure may be avoided and the patient may be given chemotherapy treatment. If the cancer has spread and has invaded the entire bladder, a cystectomy may be performed. A procedure known as radical cystectomy is done when the bladder as well as some surrounding muscle is removed and this is done when the cancer has spread to these areas as well. In some cases, a cystectomy may involve removal of more organs that surround the bladder such as the uterus and ovaries in women.
After a cystectomy is performed, a person loses their ability to store urine and urine is expelled as it is produced. Some people use an external bag to collect urine as it flows out of the body which is then emptied at a suitable time.
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Submitted by M T on May 27, 2010 at 05:46
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