Bladder Irrigation: Causes, Procedure & When It's Needed

Bladder irrigation is a medical procedure that involves flushing out the bladder with a sterile solution. It is typically performed to remove blood clots, debris, or infection from the bladder. Bladder irrigation may also be used to deliver medication directly to the bladder.

There are a number of conditions that may require bladder irrigation, including:

- Hematuria (blood in the urine): Bladder irrigation can help to remove blood clots from the bladder and prevent them from causing blockage.

- Cystitis (bladder infection): Bladder irrigation can help to flush out bacteria and other infectious agents from the bladder.

- Urinary retention (inability to urinate): Bladder irrigation can help to empty the bladder when a person is unable to urinate on their own.

- Bladder stones: Bladder irrigation can help to remove small bladder stones.

- Bladder cancer: Bladder irrigation can be used to deliver chemotherapy drugs directly to the bladder.

Bladder irrigation is typically performed by a doctor or nurse. The procedure is usually done on an outpatient basis, meaning that the person can go home the same day. Bladder irrigation may cause some discomfort, but it is generally well-tolerated.