What should you know about rigid cystoscopy and urethral dilation?

Rigid cystoscopy with urethral dilation allows a clinician to widen a narrowed urethra while examining the urinary passage and bladder. A narrowing, called a stricture, can restrict urine flow and may cause repeated urinary symptoms.

Under the planned anaesthesia, the urologist gently enlarges the narrowed segment using suitable instruments, then passes a rigid cystoscope to inspect the urethra and bladder. This can show whether another problem is contributing to poor flow, discomfort, bleeding, or recurrent infections.

The improvement in urine flow may be temporary or may need further management, depending on the length, position, and cause of the narrowing. Previous procedures, injury, inflammation, or other conditions can affect the urethra, so your clinician will interpret the findings in context.

Tell the team about medicines, allergies, previous anaesthetic problems, urinary infections, and difficulty passing urine. Follow instructions about fasting and arranging a safe journey home. A catheter may be left in place for a period after dilation so the urethra can drain while it settles.

Follow catheter-care and fluid instructions exactly. Mild burning, urgency, or a small amount of blood may occur after instrumentation. Keep the follow-up appointment so the team can check urine flow, discuss recurrence risk, and decide whether monitoring or another treatment is needed.

Call your urology team if pain, bleeding, burning, or urinary urgency is worsening rather than settling. Fever, chills, cloudy urine, or feeling unwell may indicate infection and needs prompt advice. Seek urgent care if you cannot pass urine, the catheter stops draining, or you develop severe pain or faintness.

Where is the narrowing and what may have caused it? Will I need a catheter, and for how long? How should I care for it? Which symptoms are expected? How will you check urine flow afterward? What are the options if the narrowing returns?