When to Seek Medical Care

Do not hesitate to call your doctor if you experience problems after the procedure.

• It is common to experience some burning with urination, but this should go away quickly.
  
  
• You may also see blood in the urine off and on for a couple of weeks. You need to call your doctor if you experience fever, excessive bleeding, urinary retention, or testicular pain.

At times, some of these situations could be managed at home but frequently will require immediate evaluation.

• Fever after an operation such as cystoscopy can signal the onset of infection. Most often, either the urine or the kidneys or both will become infected. Urinary burning and frequency of urination are common symptoms of urinary tract infections. Some people may have only fever and vomiting. Pneumonia is a less frequent source of fever. Thrombophlebitis, an infection of the vein used for IV access during surgery, can also occur. Your doctor needs to be notified immediately if you develop a fever, even if you are already taking antibiotics. If the office is closed, you will frequently be referred to the Emergency Department for an evaluation.
  
  
• Bleeding after cystoscopy is common. When you notice bleeding, rest and increase your fluid intake (unless you have a medical condition in which you should not). Notify your doctor at once if you feel that you are experiencing too much bleeding. An Emergency Department visit is generally necessary if your urine becomes so bloody that you could not read a newspaper through it or if you are passing blood clots in the urine. Your bladder may need to be washed out to remove the clots. You may need to be hospitalized to control the bleeding. Blood clots can block the flow of urine, causing urinary retention.
  
  
• Acute urinary retention is a medical emergency. You should see your doctor or go to the Emergency Department. Do not wait long for your doctor to call you back because this condition can continue to become increasingly uncomfortable until the bladder is drained with a catheter.
  
  
• Your doctor should be notified immediately if you experience testicular pain and swelling. You will likely need to be evaluated by a physician. Although this will usually reveal testicular inflammation or infection, torsion (a twisting of the testicle) needs to be ruled out.