CYSTOSCOPY

You have been scheduled for a procedure called cystoscopy.  During the procedure, a thin, flexible tube (about the thickness of a pencil) will be placed through your urethra (the tube from which you urinate) into the bladder.  

Before the procedure an anesthetic/numbing lubricant (viscous lidocaine) is squeezed into the urethra.  Your doctor may let the anesthetic sit in place for a period of time.  For men, a soft clamp may be placed on the penis to keep the lubricant in place.  There could be some discomfort or mild pain as the scope is introduced into the bladder.  During the procedure, sterile water is placed into the bladder through the scope that may give you the sensation of having to urinate.  The procedure usually lasts approximately a minute or minute and a half.

After the procedure we would like you to urinate before leaving the office to empty the water placed in the bladder during the procedure.  Sometimes there can be some blood in the urine, some burning with urination, afterwards.  These symptoms usually resolve in less than a day.  If your symptoms are significant or if they persist, please contact the office.  

Cystoscopy is a safe procedure and risks are uncommon.  There may be some pain or discomfort during the procedure or irritative symptoms after the procedure (as described above).  There could be a reaction to the anesthetic lubricant.  Bleeding could occur.  Some patients may get a urinary tract infection (UTI) and need antibiotics.  Rarely a more severe infection could result.  Patients could rarely have difficulty urinating after the procedure and require a catheter to drain the bladder.  Also quite rare, would be a perforation of the bladder.  Please alert us beforehand if you are allergic to betadine or lidocaine.

There should be no special preparation you need to do before the procedure.  After the procedure, most people experience no problems and go right back to work, play, or whatever they have planned for the day. 
      
There should be no activity restrictions required.  We would like you to drink plenty of fluids for approximately 24 hours after the procedure.

If you have any questions,concerns, or issues before or after your cystoscopy please contact the office.

            Information on the Anesthetic Lubricant (Lidocaine) for Cystoscopy

Given new restrictions placed on the compounding pharmacies, we have been restricted in the manner in which we obtain the anesthetic lubrication used to numb the urethra for cystoscopy.  Restrictions also prevent us from billing your insurance for the anesthetic.

We, therefore, have a few different options for you to choose from:

- We can provide you with a prescription for the anesthetic lubricant.  You would need to have the prescription filled at a pharmacy and you would then need to bring the medication to your cystoscopy appointment.  Your prescription insurance may help cover the cost, depending on your plan.

- Another option is to purchase it through our office.  We will order you an individual syringe of the anesthetic to have available at the office at the time of your cystoscopy.  Our hopes are that this would save you the time and possible inconvenience of having to fill the prescription at your pharmacy or a compounding pharmacy.  The cost to purchase the anesthetic lubricant from our office is $20.00.

- Another option would be to forgo the anesthetic completely.  Surprisingly, some patients do just fine without local anesthetic.

Please let us know which option you would like to do so we can be best prepared for your procedure.