Cystocentesis

Cystocentesis is a procedure where a needle is placed into the urinary bladder through the abdomen of an animal and a sample of urine is removed. Diagnostic cystocentesis is used to prevent sample taken for urinalysis from being contaminated with bacteria, cells and debris from the lower urogenital tract. Therapeutic cystocentesis may be employed to relieve pressure buildup due to urethral obstruction.