An endoscopy procedure is one where a special scope is inserted into the body in order to collect images of a particular area or organ system. In most cases, an endoscopy procedure is conducted on a system that has an opening to the outside of the body. The oral and anal cavities are used as entry points to perform endoscopy procedures on the digestive system.
A cystoscopy is a type of endoscopy procedure conducted on the urinary bladder and urinary system. The entry point for such a procedure is the opening of the urethra. This opening is in the clitoris for females and the penis for males. A flexible cystoscope is one that can be bent or adjusted as it moves into the bladder. Flexible scopes tend to be less painful as they have some amount of cushion because of their flexible nature.
There are some flexible cystoscopy side effects that may affect a patient who has undergone this type of procedure. The most common flexible cystoscopy side effects are pain and bleeding from the urethra. This happens because the walls of the urethra may get scraped or ruptured by the scope. The likelihood of the patient suffering from these flexible cystoscopy side effects is higher when there is an infection in the urethra itself. This sort of infection will most likely cause an inflammation to the walls of the urethra. If this is the case, the chances of rupture or scraping are elevated. Other flexible cystoscopy side effects may include temporary urinary incontinence. This happens as the scope has to be forced through the urinary sphincter muscle. This may cause the muscle to be weakened temporarily. Individuals who undergo a flexible cystoscopy procedure may experience this side effect for a few hours after the procedure has been performed. Burning during urination is one of the common flexible cystoscopy side effects after the procedure.
There are also some flexible cystoscopy risks that need to be taken into account. There is a risk that the patient might suffer from severe damage to the urethra or the bladder, particularly if the procedure is not performed properly. One of the most common flexible cystoscopy risks is the development of an infection in the urinary tract. In many cases, the condition is performed when the patient is already suffering from an infection. However, those who are not suffering from infections may develop infections as the protective lining of the urethra may be damaged during the procedure.