Overview
Hydrodistention
of the bladder is a procedure frequently performed to help establish a
diagnosis of interstitial cystitis. Hydrodistention literally means to distend
the bladder with water. Water (saline or a glycine solution may also be used)
is instilled into the bladder to a relatively high pressure (80-100 cm H20).
When the water is released from the bladder, patients with interstitial
cystitis typically develop small bleeding points under the bladder surface,
termed "glomerulations." The procedure is usually performed under
general or spinal anesthesia since most patients cannot tolerate the discomfort
of bladder filling. Filling of the bladder is performed through a cystoscope. The cystoscope is inserted into the
urethra, the tube allows urine to pass out of your body.
The anesthetic
bladder capacity, how much your bladder can hold at that pressure, is usually
lower than normal (usually less than 800cc) in most patients with interstitial
cystitis. Minute tears of the bladder's inner lining may also be seen.
A bladder
biopsy may be taken, particularly if any abnormal areas of the bladder wall are
seen. The biopsy is performed directly through the cystoscope. The amount of
tissue taken is about the size of this "O." On occasion, several
biopsies are obtained. The biopsies are usually assessed for the presence of
inflammation and/or cancer.
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