February
Managing urinary function in the OB/GYN setting is an important part of an overall care plan. Whether it’s monitoring of postoperative urinary retention (POUR), managing urinary incontinence, or evaluating OAB, assessing bladder health can be facilitated with portable bladder ultrasound. Noninvasive bladder volume measurement can avoid or reduce the duration of urinary catheterization.
Among the concerns in the PACU is managing postoperative urinary retention (POUR).
New evidence-based guidelines suggest that patient care may be improved and POUR may be alleviated by recommending appropriate catheter removal combined with ultrasound bladder monitoring.1,2
BladderScan® ultrasound bladder volume instruments help diagnose and monitor urinary retention. They are quick, accurate, easy to use - no sonographer is required. They can help manage POUR and improve patient outcomes by reducing the duration of urinary catheterization, or avoiding it altogether.3
References: 1. Baldini G, Bagry H, Aprikian A, Carli F. Postoperative urinary retention: anesthetic and perioperative considerations. Anesthesiology. 2009;110(5):1139-1157. 2. Zaouter C, Kaneva P, Carli F. Less urinary tract infection by earlier removal of bladder catheter in surgical patients receiving thoracic epidural analgesia. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2009;34(6):542-548. 3. Moore DA, Edwards K. “Using a Portable Bladder Scan to Reduce the Incidence of Nosocomial Urinary Tract Infections.” Medsurg Nursing. 1997, 6 (1), 39-43.
In patients experiencing acute or chronic urinary retention, diagnosis and treatment can be aided with the use of noninvasive portable ultrasound.
BladderScan® 3D ultrasound instruments help diagnose and monitor urinary retention. They are quick, accurate and easy to use. They can help improve patient outcomes by reducing the duration of urinary catheterization, or avoiding it altogether.1 This can help reduce the rate of catheter-associated UTIs and the complications that can result.2,3
Some models have onboard video tutorials. Measurements can be done by staff - no sonographer is required. Exam results can be printed for physician review or exported to an EHR system.
References: 1. Moore DA, Edwards K. “Using a Portable Bladder Scan to Reduce the Incidence of Nosocomial Urinary Tract Infections.” Medsurg Nursing. 1997, 6 (1), 39-43.. 2. Saint S, Lipsky BA. “Preventing Catheter-Related Bacteriuria: Should We? Can We? How?” Archives of Internal Medicine. 159 (26 April 1999): 800-808 3. Cox CE. Nosocomial Urinary Tract Infections. Urology. 32 (Sept. 1988) 3:210-214.
Urinary catheters are associated with higher UTI rates, longer hospital stays, and increased costs.1,2 And up to 80% of nosocomial UTIs come from indwelling urinary catheter use.3
New 2009 CDC Guidelines (II-H) indicate, “Consider using a portable ultrasound device…to reduce unnecessary catheter insertions.” Further information on this guideline is available at CDC Website.
BladderScan® ultrasound instruments noninvasively measure bladder volume accurately and reliably. They are easy for staff to use and no sonographer is required. They can help reduce catheterizations, the rate of catheter-associated UTIs and the complications that can result.
References: 1. Saint S, Lipsky BA. “Preventing Catheter-Related Bacteriuria: Should We? Can We? How?” Archives of Internal Medicine. 159 (26 April 1999): 800-808. 2. Cox CE. Nosocomial Urinary Tract Infections. Urology. 32 (Sept. 1988) 3:210-214. 3. Saint S, Kowalski CP, Kaufman SR, Hofer TP, Kauffman CA, et al. Preventing Hospital-Acquired Urinary Tract Infection in the United States: A National Study. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2008: 46; 243-56. 4. Moore DA, Edwards K. “Using a Portable Bladder Scan to Reduce the Incidence of Nosocomial Urinary Tract Infections.” Medsurg Nursing. 1997, 6 (1), 39-43.