Patient Information

Cystometrogram

https://kingstonhospital.nhs.uk/information/cystometrogram

What is a Cystometrogram?

This is a test which helps us to understand how well your bladder is functioning.

What do I have to do before the procedure?

It is essential that you complete the Voiding Diary for three days and nights before your appointment. If you do not complete the diary, your test will need to be rescheduled.

Please try and drink 2 pints of water (or dilute, non-caffeinated liquid) an hour before your appointment time so that you have a full bladder when you arrive. If this is difficult because you cannot hold your urine, please come to the department an hour early and drink from the water fountain here to try and keep your bladder as full as possible.

You may eat and drink as normal before the procedure.

What are the intended benefits of this procedure?

Cystometrogram is used to assess the capacity and activity of your bladder.

What are the alternatives to this procedure?

We would rely on observation of your symptoms.

What are the most frequently occurring or serious risks of this procedure?

Common

Mild burning when you pass urine for a short period afterwards.

Occasional

Urinary infection, requiring treatment with antibiotics.

Rare

Inability to pass urine afterwards, requiring a temporary catheter (small hollow tube used to drain your urine), or learning how to insert a catheter yourself.

What sort of anaesthetic is used?

Anaesthetic is not usually required, but we will inset a small amount a lubricating gel to ease any mild discomfort.

What does the procedure involve?

You will be an outpatient for this procedure.
A specially trained health practitioner will insert a catheter (small hollow tube) into your urethra (water pipe) and also your rectum (back passage).
Your bladder will be filled with sterile water via a pump attached to a machine to see how your bladder behaves. The catheters are connected to a computer which receives information as your bladder fills.
As your bladder fills, we will ask you to cough so that we can assess any leakage.
When your bladder is full, we will ask you to urinate into a flowmeter which is a special toilet that records the rate and amount of flow and helps us to evaluate how well your urinary tract is working.
We will then scan your bladder to check if it is empty.

Please allow 1 and a half hours for this procedure.

Please note there are no childcare facilities in the department.

What happens after the procedure?

Once the procedure is complete, you may leave the hospital and return to your normal activities straight away.

During the 24 hours after the test, please try and drink 2 to 3 litres of water or non-alcoholic fluids to reduce the risk of urine infection.

Within a few weeks of the procedure, we will send you an appointment to discuss your results with a doctor.

What else should I look out for?

If you develop a fever, bleeding or pain whilst urinating, please contact your GP.

If you become unable to pass urine at all, please go to your nearest Emergency Department (A&E).

Women:

If there is a possibility you could be pregnant please contact the Urology department using the contact details at the bottom of this leaflet.

Who should I contact for more information?

Specialist Urology Nurses
Clinical Nurse Specialist in Urology Oncology if you have a cancer condition and would like further information regarding this
Your Urology Consultant when you see them next

Contacts

Specialist Urology Nurses - Urodynamics	0208 934 3038
Clinical Nurse Specialist in Urology Oncology	0208 934 2729
Urodynamics Team	0208 934 3038

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