A urethroscopy is an inspection of the interior of urethra using a urethroscope. It may be done under general or local anesthesia, depending on the needs and requirements of the healthcare provider and the patient.

Operation The patient can be given a general anesthetic or can be numbed from waist down through an injection at the spine. The choice depends partially on the preference of the patient, and partially on what the surgeon or anesthesiologist thinks or knows is best. Undergoing a general anesthetic means that the patient will be completely asleep during the entire operation. Experiencing an injection at the spine means that the patient will be awake during the operation, but will not be able to feel any pain from waist down. If the surgeon believes that the patient just needs to have a thorough look at the urethra, the tube that connects the bladder with the penis or the area in the front of the vagina, and or possibly the bladder and needs to take two to three pieces of tissues for biopsies from the lining of the urethra or the bladder to clarify the problem, the patient might not need a general anesthetic or an anesthetic injection at the spinal column. As an alternative, the surgeon can flush some anesthetic jelly into the urethra so that the patient will have only a minimal discomfort when the telescope is inserted. If the patient is awake for the operation, the patient will have his or her legs held up in stirrups. A nurse will be advised to communicate with you during the surgery.

A narrow tube is passed inside the penis of the male, or into the front passage of the female, up into the bladder. The surgeon then slips a telescope and other instruments up the first tube. The attending medical doctor takes x-rays, views the inside, or operates as planned. Conclusively all the equipment is taken out. From time to time, after the operation, it is necessary to pass a tube or a catheter back up into the bladder. This will allow urine to drain freely into a bag for a time. Normally the patient can go home the same day. If there are any problems with the operation, the patient will need to stay longer. The doctors will inform the patient about any complications or problems, if there are any.

When used in the posterior urethra the urethroscope, under direct vision, is steadily withdrawn from the bladder, care being taken that distending fluid, under a few feet of pressure, is incessantly flowing through the sheath to dilate the internal sphincter and posterior urethra. The amount of distention can be easily regulated by the height of the irrigator and by the tap on the side of the sheath. If the bladder, into which the distending fluid has flowed, gets uncomfortably full, it is to be emptied by carrying the urethroscope back into it, closing the tap and loosening the urethroscope in its sheath. Re-hollowing the telescope, and reopening the tap permits renewed examination or work on the posterior urethra. The scope can usually be carried back and forth in the posterior urethra, if distention is kept up, with only slight discomfort to the patient. Bullae, papillomata, sinuses, ulcers, congested areas, distortion from scars or adenomatous bulgings, inflammation of the utricle, stricture, among others can be all clearly differentiated, when present, through this form of endoscope and remedial instrumentation done where indicated. Finally, on withdrawing it through the external sphincter, the scope can be used as an anterior endoscope, by making use of the extra tap as an evacuator of the distending fluid. Pressure in the anterior urethra can be regulated by manipulation of the inflow and outflow taps.

Therefore at one sitting, beginning at the bladder and working out, one can examine or operate on any part of the urinary tract.