Urethroscope is an endoscope instrument, which is consists of a fine tube fitted with a light and lenses for the examination of the interior of the urethra. It can also view even the prostate region of the males.

Urethroscopes and cystocopes of numerous makes and designs are so nearly perfect in construction, that one must be very sure of one’s ground before offering to add to their number. The one thing lacking so far is, that no single instrument takes the place of all the others required for complete urethral, cystoscopic or ureteral work. This tool or instrument needs to be inserted only once for no matter what examination or operating is to be done. It can be used with a telescope or a periscope without withdrawal and reinsertion. It decreases the total number of working parts and simplifies them. It allows stronger instruments to be used and withal, which has been most difficult of attainment, the instrument, it is hoped, is as good as the best for any use to which it is put. The balancing of the different requirements of the combined instrument so as to avoid deterioration into a makeshift for some rationale while excellent for others, is what has taken up time and experiments for the last ten or twelve years. During this period others working independently have brought out developments or improvements similar to those already done. There is hardly any part of the instrument, which in some form or other, is not on the market somewhere.

It is even questionable at times whether it is advisable to use cystoscope at all because much harm may be done through cystoscopy. Therefore, there is a call today for an instrument with which one can accomplish the maximum at one sitting. An agreeable surprise awaits those who have not used the open ended, water dilating posterior endoscope. Through this not a patch of the urethra only, but the whole circumference is seen in a field large enough to embrace both abnormal and normal areas, so that any lesion present contrasts with its environments. Those who have used the wiggly tools supplied with all operating periscopes will appreciate this system, which allows larger, stronger, and simpler ones to come directly into the field of vision by a single thrusting movement.

This cysto-urethroscope is housed in a tube of a 24-calibre French to introduce, which through the urethra and into the bladder an obturator with beak that can be curved is used. The periscope alongside with the urethroscope is used for examining, for catheterizing the ureters, or for fulguration. The light will be found good, the field large and clear and the catheter carrying tubes of ample size to carry number sixes. The periscope, having served its purpose, is removed and, if required, the telescope takes its place in the sheath. Through the tap, fluid is allowed to flow and lift the collapsed bladder off the open end of the sheath. Then the trigone can be seen en profile or en face at will. It will be found occasionally that ureters, which cannot be catheterized by the indirect periscope method, can be catheterized by the direct telescope method. The direct telescope method is also used if a very large single catheter or sound is to be passed.

The telescope has soldered to its sides the lighting apparatus and a return water tube. Under the telescope and capable of backward and forward movement, may be inserted catheter carriers, scissors, forceps, ureteral meatotome, utricle syringe, or a kook for removing filiforms, hairpins, among others. When one of these accessories is in place under the telescope it practically forms part of the instrument so that when one brings an object into the center of the field of vision only a forward thrust of the accessory is necessary to bring it in contact with its objective. Shearing, slitting, grasping, insertion or injection then can be easily accomplished. The irrigating nozzle can be used with any irrigating cystoscope to carry fluid directly through the main tube or through the taps at will. It will be found very useful where large quantities of fluid are required to flush out and clean a very dirty bladder quickly or to flush the field of vision under direct observation when cystoscopy is under way.

The uses of urethroscope, cystocopes and other telescopes have indeed been very useful for the determination of any abnormalities of the interior urethra, bladder and portions of the digestive tract.