Endoscopy is the process where the doctor is able to look within the body. Often, diseases and conditions can be diagnosed using simple sight to identify the presence of the condition. An endoscopy procedure is conducted by using an endoscope. This is a device which has lenses and lighting equipment on one end and is connected to a computer screen on the other. Using this type of scope, the doctor can view within various body cavities including the intestines, the digestive tract, the esophagus and also the urinary bladder and associated organs.
An endoscopy procedure of the bladder is known as a cystoscopy. This procedure is used to check the bladder for abnormalities. The cystoscope used for this procedure is narrow and not as large as a standard endoscope. This is to allow the scope to enter the bladder through the urethra. The bladder and the urethra are susceptible to infection. Urinary tract infections are commonplace and often need to be diagnosed by sight. In some cases, the bladder may have an abnormal mass of cells which could be cancerous. The cystoscopy procedure is therefore used for these cases.
During a cystoscopy procedure, the doctor may also use water to stretch the bladder. When the bladder is full, the wall structure will be well defined. If the bladder is empty, then the walls may be partially collapsed, making it difficult to view them in detail. Cystoscopy female surgery is common because women tend to be more susceptible to urinary tract infections. The urethra in the female body is shorter than it is for men. This means that infections have to travel a shorter distance to penetrate the bladder. The cystoscopy female surgery procedure is identical to the male procedure with the only difference being the length of access required as the scope is passed into the bladder. The cystoscopy female surgery procedure is conducted on an outpatient basis without the use of general anesthesia. Local numbing agents are applied to the urethra to make sure that there is no serious pain during the procedure. Apart from this, there should be few complications associated with a cystoscopy procedure. Also see cystourethroscopy procedure.
Some complications associated with a cystoscopy procedure include mild bleeding during subsequent urination and urinary incontinence. Incontinence occurs possibly for the first few urinations after which the sphincter regains its strength. The cystoscopy female surgery procedure is used for diagnosis and for tissue sample collection and is usually not used for treatment.