| Now it's time to talk about the actual procedure your doctor has recommended for you.
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On the day of your operation, you will be asked to put on a surgical gown. |
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You may receive a sedative by mouth |
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and an intravenous line may be put in. |
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You will then be transferred to the operating table. |
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Once on the table, your feet and legs will be placed in an elevated position with your knees apart. You'll be asked to urinate so the amount of urine remaining in the bladder can be measured. |
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A nurse will then shave your pubic area |
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and swab the opening of your urethra with an antiseptic solution. |
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A well-lubricated cystoscope is gently inserted into the urethra and slowly guided inward. |
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Once the cystoscope is inside the bladder, your doctor will inject a small amount of water through the cystoscope and into the bladder. |
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The water serves to expand the bladder, helping your doctor to better examine the interior. It also helps by washing away any blood or remaining urine. You may feel a sense of fullness as though you need to urinate. |
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You'll be encouraged to relax and not to try to retain the water in your bladder. As the team completes the inspection, they'll be looking for suspicious tissues. |
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If they find bladder stones, your doctor may try to crush these so that they can pass out of the bladder during normal urination. If the team finds a suspicious growth they will use a special grasping tool to take a sample of tissue in order to send to a laboratory for analysis. |
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When the inspection is complete, your doctor will remove the cystoscope and you'll be asked to empty your bladder. |
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Your doctor will probably ask you to wear a temporary Foley catheter. |
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A Foley catheter is a narrow tube inserted through your urethra and into your bladder. The catheter is connected to a bag that is attached to your leg by a strap. While the Foley catheter is in place, urine will pass from your bladder into the bag. You will not need to urinate into a toilet. |
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The nurse will show you how to change the bag when it is full. An appointment will be made for you to return to the doctor's office in a couple of days to have the catheter removed. As soon as the anesthesia wears off and you feel comfortable, you'll be allowed to leave. |
