Cystoscopy is a diagnostic and treatment procedure to look inside your bladder and urethra. This is done to mainly treat urinary tract problems.

Why Do You Need a Cystoscopy? Your doctor may recommend a cystoscopy for the following:

•  Bladder control issues including urinary incontinence.
•  Blood in your urine or haematuria.
•  Bladder stones.
•  Painful urination or dysuria.

What are the Risks Associated with a Cystoscopy?

Cystoscopy is a comparatively safe procedure with fewer risks involved. Some rare risks may include:

•  Urinary tract infection.
•  Damage to your bladder.
•  Bladder spasms.
•  Damage to your urethra or scarring.

What Happens During a Cystoscopy?

Cystoscopy may take roughly 15-20 minutes. It may, however, take more time if you need a biopsy or other treatment procedure. During the procedure, the urologist will:

• Ask you to pee right before the procedure.
• Give you anaesthesia.
• Numb your urethra with a gel
•  Insert a lubricated cystoscope through your urethra to your bladder.
•  Inject sterile salt water through the cystoscope into your bladder.
•  Look inside your bladder and urethra.
•  Insert tiny instruments through the cystoscope to remove tissue samples or tumours, if required.
•  Drain the injected liquid from the bladder.

What Happens After a Cystoscopy?

Depending on the cystoscopy cause, you may have to stay overnight in the hospital or go home the same day. You will mostly recover within a day or two from the procedure.

A ureteroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat stones in the ureters. In addition, it may also be used to evaluate and treat other causes of kidney blockage or blood in your urine.

What Are the Causes of Ureteral Obstruction?

You may need a ureteroscopy if you have:

• Blood in the urine.
• Blockage of the ureter and/or kidney.
• Urothelial cancer.

What Are the Risks Associated with a Ureteroscopy?

Although the procedure is safe it may cause infection, bleeding, or injury to the ureter. This is a rare occurrence and may require surgery to repair.

What Happens During a Ureteroscopy?

The entire procedure will take around 15-20 minutes to complete, and your urologist will give you anaesthesia. A ureteroscope will be inserted into your bladder and ureter to look for problems in the urinary tract.

What Happens After a Ureteroscopy?

You may experience mild to moderate pain for the first few days. It may, however, subside in a week. Consult your doctor at the earliest if you notice signs of infection, fever, chills, and severe pain.

A transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is a surgical procedure to remove a part of your prostate gland.

Why Do You Need a TURP?

TURP is an effective way to treat benign prostate enlargement or hyperplasia when your prostate grows too large. With hyperplasia, your prostate gland may press on your urethra and make it difficult to urinate. It includes:

• A sudden need to urinate and being unable to wait.
• Frequent urges to urinate every one to two hours.
• Kidney damage in severe cases.
• Nocturia.
• Urinary retention.
• Weak urine stream.

What are the Risks Associated with TURP?

TURP may cause certain complications, including:

• Blood in your urine.
• Urinary incontinence.
•  Retrograde ejaculation.
•  Urinary tract infection.

What Happens During a TURP?

TURP is a minimally invasive procedure that may roughly take up to 90 minutes. During the procedure, a urologist will:

• Give you anaesthesia.
• Insert a retro scope into your urethra.
• Evaluate your prostate and remove excess tissue with a laser.
• Use fluid to temporarily flush the excess tissue into your bladder.
• Drain excess tissue (if any) out of your bladder.
• Remove the retroscope.

What Happens After a TURP?

After the procedure, you may be required to stay for one or two days in the hospital. A catheter may be attached to your urethra for urine flow and removed once you go home.

Urodynamic testing involves a series of tests that diagnose issues with your urethra, bladder, urinary sphincter, and urinary tract.

Why Do You Need Urodynamic Testing?

You may require urodynamic testing if you have:

•  Pain while peeing.
• Sudden urge to pee.
• Urinary incontinence.
• Urinary retention.
• Slow urine flow.
• Neurogenic bladder.
• Spine injury or surgery

What Are the Types of Urodynamic Tests?

Depending on your condition, a urologist may recommend any of the below tests:

• Cystometry: During this test, a catheter may be used to measure pressure inside your bladder, contractions or spasms of your bladder wall. Your urologist will insert a catheter called a manometer into your bladder through the urethra to measure bladder pressure. Following this, the warm and sterile solution will be filled in your bladder. You may be asked to cough to record leak point pressure.

• Electromyography: Electromyography uses sensors to measure the electrical activity of muscles and nerves in and around your bladder. During this test, electrode patches are applied near your urethra and rectum to record electrical currents when muscles in your pelvic floor contract.

• Uroflowmetry: This test is done to analyze how quickly you pee. To do this, you will be asked to pee into a machine that will measure the amount and flow rate of your pee.

• Postvoid Residual Measurement: This test measures the amount of pee left in your bladder when you empty it. It involves a bladder scan to evaluate how much urine is in your bladder.

Video Urodynamic Tests: This test involves a combination of cystometry, uroflowmetry, and X-ray to measure urine flow and pressure in your bladder and rectum by using X-rays. What Happens After Urodynamic Testing? After the procedure, you may have mild discomfort or soreness when you pee which may subside after a few hours.

Bladder biopsy involves a diagnostic surgical procedure during which a doctor removes cells or tissues from your bladder to be tested in a laboratory.

Why Do You Need a Bladder Biopsy?

You may need a bladder biopsy, if you have:

• Blood in the urine.
• Frequent urination.
• Lower back pain.
• Painful urination.

What Are the Risks Associated with Bladder Biopsy?

All medical procedures involve a certain level of risk. With a bladder biopsy, you may have blood clots in your urine which may subside after two or three days.

What Happens During a Bladder Biopsy?

The procedure takes around 15-30 minutes. During the biopsy, your urologist will insert a cystoscope into your urethra. The doctor will also inject water or saline solution through the cystoscope to fill your bladder. Once your bladder is inflated, he will inspect your bladder wall and remove a small part to be tested.

What Happens After a Bladder Biopsy?

After the procedure, you may be required to stay in the hospital for a day or two or return home the same day. If cancer is detected, your urologist will discuss a treatment plan with you.

Urethral reconstruction or urethroplasty surgery is performed to repair or replace your urethra.

Why Do You Need a Urethral Reconstruction?

You may need a urethroplasty if you have:

• Urethral stricture may cause narrowing of the urethra.
• Epispadias or hypospadias, are congenital conditions that cause blockages in the urethra.
• Had gender affirmation surgery.

are the Risks Associated with Urethral Reconstruction?

Like any other surgical procedure, urethroplasty may also show certain risks:

• Pain in the scrotum.
• Leakage of urine or semen from your penis.
• Erectile dysfunction.
• Nerve injury to legs, feet, or elbows.

What Happens During a Urethral Reconstruction?

During the procedure, your urosurgeon will cut some muscle tissue either on the underside of your penis or in your scrotum to reach the urethra. Upon reaching the location, it will either be removed or rebuilt depending on its length.

What Happens After a Urethral Reconstruction?

After the procedure, you may be required to stay in the hospital for a day or two or go home the same day. Complete recovery will take about two to three weeks.

Circumcision refers to a procedure that removes the foreskin covering the head of the penis.

What Does a Circumcision Do?

A circumcision exposes the head of the penis. Although it started as a religious site, it is now being performed for various medical, religious, and cultural reasons.

What Are the Risks Associated with Circumcision?

Circumcision is a safe procedure but may also involve certain risks, including:

• Bleeding.
• Infection.
• Pain.
• Cutting the foreskin too long or too short.
• Inflammation or irritation at the tip of the penis.

What Happens During a Circumcision?

During the procedure, your doctor will give you anaesthesia, clean the penis, separate the foreskin from the head of the penis, and suture the area.

Vasectomy refers to a surgical procedure that stops sperm from leaving your body leading to permanent birth control. It is regarded as one of the safe and effective birth control methods.

What Are the Risks Associated with Vasectomy?

For the first few days after vasectomy, you may experience inflammation, bleeding, or infection, which are uncommon and not serious.

What Happens During a Vasectomy?

Vasectomies are of two types:

• Incision vasectomy.
• No-scalpel vasectomy.

During both of these procedures, your urosurgeon will give you a local anaesthetic. After this, the ends of the vas deferens will be closed off. This stops the sperm from mixing with semen and releasing during ejaculation.

What Happens After a Vasectomy?

After the procedure, you may feel a little discomfort, bruising, and swelling. However, these symptoms will likely go away within 72 hours of the surgery.

Cystectomy is a complex surgical procedure that involves removing some or all of your urinary bladder. This procedure is performed to treat urinary bladder cancer.

Can a Person Live Without a Bladder?

Yes, you can live without a bladder. You will, however, need a new reservoir to hold urine produced by your kidneys.

What Are the Risks Associated with a Cystectomy?

Like any other surgical procedure, a cystectomy may show the following risks:

• Blood clots.
• Bleeding.
• Organ damage.
• Infection.
• Bowel complications.
• Healing problems.
• A buildup of fluid at the surgical site.

What Happens During a Cystectomy?

During the procedure, you will receive general anaesthesia. The urologist may perform the surgery with either of the two surgical approaches:

• Open Cystectomy: Your urologist may access your bladder and the tissues around it by making a long incision between your belly button and pubic bone. Once accessed, your bladder will be removed.

• Minimally Invasive Cystectomy: During this procedure, your urologist will first inflate your abdomen with carbon dioxide to create a working space. After this, around 5 to 6 incisions will be made in your abdomen to insert a laparoscope. The laparoscope with tiny surgical instruments at one end will remove some or all of your bladder.

What Happens After a Cystectomy?

After the procedure, you will be moved to a recovery area. You may experience slight pain when you fully wake up.

Nephrectomy refers to the surgical removal of one kidney. On the other hand, bilateral nephrectomy refers to the surgical removal of both kidneys.

Your doctor may recommend a nephrectomy to remove a tumour from the kidney. You may even require the procedure if your kidney is the source of repeated infections in your body.

All surgeries carry some type of risk. With nephrectomy, there are chances of damage in your remaining kidney and a small risk of kidney failure.

Depending on your condition, your urosurgeon may use laparoscopic or open surgery. In both procedures, you will receive anaesthesia. During laparoscopic surgery, your surgeon will:

• Make one or two incisions on your abdomen or side.
• Insert a laparoscope with a camera through the incision.
• Use the camera image and tiny surgical tools to remove the damaged portion of your kidney or your entire kidney.
• Close all incisions with small stitches.

During an open surgery, your surgeon will:

• Make one big incision on your abdomen.
• Remove the damaged part of your kidney or whole kidney.
• Close the incision with stitches.

After the procedure, you will be moved to a recovery room and will likely stay in the hospital for one to five days.

An orchiectomy refers to a surgical procedure that removes one or both testicles.

Why Do You Need an Orchiectomy?

Your doctor may recommend an orchiectomy to:

• Treat testicular or prostate cancer.
• Help transgender people transition.
• Remove damaged testicles.

What Are the Risks Associated with Orchiectomy?

Orchiectomy is generally safe but may show certain complications, including:

• Depression.
• Fatigue.
• Low sex drive.
• Low muscle mass.
• Erectile dysfunction.
• Osteoporosis.
• Hot flashes.

What Happens During an Orchiectomy?

During the procedure, your surgeon will first give you anaesthesia, clean the area, and make an incision. The location of the incision will depend on the type of orchiectomy. Your surgeon may remove one or both testicles and the spermatic cord.

What Happens After an Orchiectomy?

After the procedure, you will be moved to a recovery area. The entire recovery will take several weeks and you may also require a few follow-up appointments with your doctor.

Ureteral stents are thin and flexible tubes that hold your ureters open. Ureters are thin tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. You may require a stent in your ureter to prevent ureteral obstructions.

Why Do You Need a Ureteral Stent?

Your doctor may recommend a ureteral stent in the following cases:

• Kidney stone.
• Blood clots.
• Inflammatory bowel disease.
• Tumour.
• Ureteral stones.
• Scar tissue development.

What Are the Risks Associated with Ureteral Stent Placement?

People with ureteral stent may experience:

• Blood in urine.
• Bladder irritation or spasms.
• Infection.
• Blocked or dislodged stents.

What Happens During a Ureteral Stent Placement?

Ureteral stenting is generally an outpatient procedure during which your urosurgeon will:

• Give you an anaesthesia.
• Use X-ray imaging to locate the obstruction.
• Insert a small cystoscope through the urethra into the bladder.
• Thread a thin wire through the cystoscope into the blocked ureter to place the stent.
• Remove the guidewire and cystoscope, leaving the stent behind.

What Happens After a Ureteral Stent Placement?

After the procedure, you may go home the same day. Your doctor may recommend you drink lots of water to keep your kidneys and bladder functioning.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy or PCNL refers to a surgical procedure to remove kidney stones that are too big to pass on their own.

What Are the Risks Associated with PCNL?

PCNL is generally safe but may have the following risks:

• Healing problems.
• Infection.
• Blood clots.
• Fluid buildup at surgical site.
• Kidney damage.
• Sepsis.

What Happens During a PCNL?

During the procedure, your urologist gives you an anaesthesia. Once anaesthesia sets in, your surgeon will make a small incision on your back or side. After this, a protective sleeve will be passed through the incision into your kidney. Following this, a nephroscope will be inserted to locate and remove the kidney stone.

What Happens After a PCNL?

After a PCNL, you will be moved to a recovery area. You may be required to stay in the hospital for at least one day

Urethrotomy refers to a surgical procedure that is used to narrow a urethra.

Why Do You Need a Urethrotomy?

You may need a urethrotomy if you have:

• Urinary tract infection.
• Blood in the urine.
• Pain while urinating.
• Urinary incontinence.

What Are the Risks Associated with Urethrotomy?

The long-term success rate of urethrotomy is generally low and you may even require one or more subsequent surgeries as there are high chances of urethral strictures.

What Happens During Urethrotomy?

During the procedure, your surgeon will:

• Give you anaesthesia.
• Insert a urethrotome or cystoscope with a surgical knife attached to your urethra.
• Open the restricted area with a cutting blade or knife.
• Empty the bladder and fill it with irrigation fluid.
• Place a catheter to drain the fluid.

What Happens After Urethrotomy?

After the procedure, you will be moved to a recovery room and your condition will be monitored. Depending on your condition, you may be required to stay in the hospital for a day or go home the same day.

Hydrocelectomy refers to a surgical procedure that removes or repairs a hydrocele which is a fluid-filled sac surrounding your testicles.

Why Do You Need a Hydrocelectomy?

You may need a hydrocelectomy if your hydroceles are painful or growing rapidly to a size that is affecting the functioning of other genital tissues.

What Are the Risks Associated with a Hydrocelectomy?

Hydrocelectomy may cause the following complications:

•  Infection.
• Swelling.
• Mass of clotted blood.
• Healing problems.
• Bruising.

What Happens During a Hydrocelectomy?

During the procedure, your surgeon will:

• Give you anaesthesia.
• Make a small incision on your scrotum or near the scrotum.
• Remove the hydrocele sac.
• Place small silicone tubes in the area to drain blood and fluid.
• Stitch the tubes into place.

What Happens After a Hydrocelectomy?

After the procedure, you will be moved to a recovery room and you may go back home on the same day