Please have any pathology or radiology tests competed if requested during your appointment. Take your normal medications unless told otherwise by Dr Murray or the anaesthetist. If intravenous sedation is planned, then you will need to fast for six hours prior to the procedure. In this case please ensure someone has been arranged to drive you home as you cannot drive following the sedation.

After administration of sedation and/or local anaesthetic the tip of the flexible cystoscope is inserted into the urethra. The scope is the advanced along the urethra into the urinary bladder. The tip is then flexed in order to visualize the internal lining of the bladder. If a ureteric stent is to be removed a grasping forcep is inserted through a working channel of the flexible cystoscope. The stent is then grasped and removed via the urethra.

A short period of time is required in the recovery room while the sedation wears off. It is necessary to ensure you can void prior to discharge. There may be some blood in the urine and a stinging sensation, this usually settles with 24 hours. Dr Murray will see you prior to discharge to discuss the findings and make arrangements for any further tests or procedures and your follow up appointment.

Flexible cystoscopy is a minor procedure and serious complications are rare. Risks and complications include but are not limited to:

1.   Haematuria (blood in the urine)

2.   Dysuria (stinging sensation when voiding)

3.   Urinary tract infection

4.   Stricture formation (urethral scarring causing reduction in urine flow)

5.   Conversion to a general anaesthetic and rigid cystoscopy (if unexpected finding necessitate a bladder biopsy