Urethrocystoscopy (urethrocystoscopy) is an endoscopy of the urethra and bladder.
Indications (areas of application)
- Hematuria – blood in the urine
- Urinary incontinence – inability to hold urine.
- Urethral stenosis (narrowing of the urethra).
- Urinary bladder diverticula – protrusions of the urinary bladder wall.
- Tumors in the area of the urinary bladder and urethra.
- Changes in the prostate – necessary for planning surgical interventions.
Before the examination
- No preparation required; also no antibiotic prophylaxis.
The procedure
In urethrocystoscopy, an endoscope (called a cystoscope) is inserted through the urethra (urethra) to view and thus examine the urethra and urinary bladder after introducing water – to better visualize the organs.
Rigid and flexible cystoscopes are available.
Potential complications
- Slight blood in the urine and pain during urination in the first days after the examination
- Post-treatment bleeding is possible if treatment procedures (e.g., tissue sampling) have occurred.
- Urinary tract infections (rare)
- Perforations (puncture or injury) of the urethral or bladder wall are very rare
- Later urethral strictures (narrowing of the urethra) requiring treatment are very rare.
- Infections (pyelonephritis/pelvic inflammation, prostatitis/prostatitis or epididymitis/epididymitis) after the examination are very rare.
- Hypersensitivity or allergies (e.g., anesthetics/anesthetics, dyes, medications, etc.) may temporarily cause the following symptoms: Swelling, rash, itching, sneezing, watery eyes, dizziness or vomiting.
- Infections resulting in severe life-threatening complications in vital functions (e.g., heart, circulation, respiration), permanent damage (e.g., paralysis), and life-threatening complications (e.g., sepsis/blood poisoning) are very rare (4.4 patients per 1,000 examinations have severe infections).
