Cystoscopy / Ureteroscopy

What is Cystoscopy / Ureteroscopy?

Cystoscopy is a procedure in which a Cystoscope is used to see inside your urinary bladder and urethra. When a Cystoscope is used to exmine the ureter, the procedure is called Ureteroscopy.

Where can I get Cystoscopy / Ureteroscopy?

Country	Cost with MedSolution
India	(Please inquire for price)

Cost of procedure performed in the US: $2,700.

All prices are in US dollars and include the cost of the procedure and minimum hospital stay. Estimates and minimum hospital stay will vary depending upon individual needs and requirements.

Cystoscopy vs. Ureteroscopy - What is the difference?

If you have a stone lodged at a site higher in your urinary tract, your doctor may insert the Cystoscope through the bladder and up into the ureter. The ureter is the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder. When used to view the ureters, the Cystoscope is called a Ureteroscope. Your doctor can then see the stone and remove it with a small basket at the end of a wire inserted through an extra tube in the Ureteroscope. Your doctor may also use the extra tube in the Cystoscope to extend a flexible fiber that carries a laser beam to break the stone into smaller pieces. These smaller pieces of stones or debris can then pass out of the body in your urine.

What is a Cystoscope / Ureteroscope?

A Cystoscope / Ureteroscope is a thin as a pencil instrument that has a light at it's tip. The Cystoscope / Ureteroscope has magnifying lenses like a telescope or microscope. These lenses let the doctor focus on the inner surfaces of the urinary tract. Some Cystoscopes / Ureteroscopes use optical fibers (flexible glass fibers) that carry an image from the tip of the instrument to a viewing piece at the other end. Many Cystoscopes / Ureteroscopes have extra tubes to guide other instruments for procedures to treat urinary problems.

Who is an ideal candidate for Cystoscopy / Ureteroscopy?

If you have frequent urinary tract infections, blood in your urine (hematuria), loss of bladder control (incontinence) or overactive bladder, unusual cells are found in your urine sample, need for a bladder catheter, painful urination, chronic pelvic pain, or interstitial cystitis, urinary blockage such as prostate enlargement, stricture, or narrowing of the urinary tract, stone in the urinary tract or unusual growth, polyp, tumor, or cancer then you are an ideal candidate for Cystoscopy / Ureteroscopy.

What does the procedure for Cystoscopy / Ureteroscopy involve?

Your doctor will gently insert the tip of the Cystoscope / Ureteroscope 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 / Ureteroscope 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 / Ureteroscope 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 Cystoscopy / Ureteroscopy procedure last longer. In most cases, the entire examination, including preparation, will take about 15 - 20 minutes.

How do I prepare for Cystoscopy / Ureteroscopy?

Ask your doctor about any special instructions to prepare for Cystoscopy / Ureteroscopy. In most cases, you will be able to eat normally and return to normal activities after the Cystoscopy / Ureteroscopy 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 Cystoscopy / Ureteroscopy test.

What to expect after Cystoscopy / Ureteroscopy procedure?

You may have a mild burning feeling when you urinate, and you may see small amounts of blood in your urine. These problems should not last more than 24 hours after Cystoscopy / Ureteroscopy procedure. Tell your doctor if bleeding or pain is severe or if problems last more than a couple of days. To relieve discomfort, drink two 8-ounce glasses of water each hour for 2 hours. Ask your doctor if you can take a warm bath to relieve the burning feeling after Cystoscopy / Ureteroscopy procedure. If not, you may be able to hold a warm, damp washcloth over the urethral opening. Your doctor may give you an antibiotic to take for 1 or 2 days to prevent an infection. If you have signs of infection like pain, chills, or fever contact your doctor immediately.

B . R . A . N . D . of Cystoscopy / Ureteroscopy

Benefits of Cystoscopy / Ureteroscopy

• The benefits of Cystoscopy / Ureteroscopy are two fold; this procedure does not only have a diagnostic value but it also has a therapeutic value as small stones can easily be removed from the urethra during the Cystoscopy / Ureteroscopy procedure.

Risks of Cystoscopy / Ureteroscopy

• Urinary tract infection
• Injury (perforation or tear) to the urethra or urinary bladder
• Soreness or burning sensation in the urethra
• Urethral narrowing (stricture) due to formation of scar tissue
• Inability to urinate due to swelling of the surrounding tissues

Alternatives to Cystoscopy / Ureteroscopy

• X - ray of abdomen to visualize the kidney, ureter and bladder (plain KUB)
• Intravenous Pyelography (IVP) is a procedure in which a radio-opaque dye is injected intravenously and X-rays are recoded at regular time intervals to visualize the excretion of the dye in the urine. Any space occupying leision like a stone or a tumour in the kidney, ureter or the urinary bladder will be visualized as a filling defect (blockage) on the X-ray. Under normal conditions, the ureter and the urinary bladder should appear smooth and of normal size, shape and position and there should not be any blockages.The radio-opaque dye is eventually excreted out of the body in the next 24 hours.
• Ultrasound of abdomen.

Now or Never

• Cystoscopy / Ureteroscopy is a simple and safe procedure with least number of risks and complicatons associated with it. Cystoscopy / Ureteroscopy is usually performed as an outpatient procedure in a urology clinic or treatment room. This procedure is usually performed either to look at the bladder for abnormalities or to help with surgery being performed on the inside of the urinary tract.

Decision to have Cystoscopy / Ureteroscopy

• Your urologic surgeon will perform Cystoscopy / Ureteroscopy to visualize and evaluate your urinary tract from inside. Abnormalities can be detected in this manner, and surgical procedures if necessary can be performed.