Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Post-voiding residual urine volume is an important investigation in the management of voiding dysfunction. Catheterisation is widely regarded as the "gold" standard method of measurement. We investigated the performance of a portable ultrasound scanner (Bladder Scan BVI-2500), as an alternative method of measurement.

METHODS:

This study was prospective in nature. One hundred measurements of post-voiding residual urine volume by ultrasound were compared with measurements by catheterisation.

RESULTS:

The mean absolute error of the scanner was 52 mL. For volumes below 200 mL and 100 mL, this was 36 mL and 24 mL respectively. A decision regarding whether to decompress the bladder by catheterisation would have also been correct in 86% to 89% of instances, depending on the cut-off value of the residual volume used. In other words, the ultrasound measurement would have been correct in 9 out of 10 clinical cases.

CONCLUSION:

We recommend the routine use of portable ultrasound scanners of similar accuracy in the measurement of post-voiding residual urine volume.