Abstract:
Using a Portable Ultrasound Bladder Scanner in the Cardiac
Care Unit
Linda M. Sulzbach-Hoke,
RN, MSN, CCRN, and Linda C. Schanne, RN, MSN, CCRN.
"Using a Portable Ultrasound Bladder Scanner in
the Cardiac Care Unit." Critical Care Nurse 19
(December 1999) 6: 35-39.
Objectives:
* To determine the effectiveness of the BladderScan®
in reducing the incidence of UTI among critically ill
patients in the Cardiac Care Unit (for whom monitoring
urine output without increasing the risk of UTI is vital).
Methods:
* Representatives from Verathon™ (formerly Diagnostic
Ultrasound Corporation) trained CCU nurses in the use
of the BladderScan®.
* The BladderScan was used to evaluate the bladder volume
of patients in stable condition who experienced dramatic
decreases in urine output, or no urine output for six
to eight hours. If more than 200mls were present in
the bladder, patients were instructed to attempt to
void; if they were unable to do so, they were catheterized.
* Data was collected for one year. Sex, age, reasons
for scanning, and outcomes were recorded for the eighty-two
patients evaluated in this study.
Results:
* Of the twenty-one patients with indwelling catheters,
seventeen avoided the unnecessary irrigation of these
catheters, and four blocked catheters were detected,
allowing appropriate action to be taken to protect the
health of the patient.
* Use of the BladderScan®
decreased the number of catheterizations performed on
patients without indwelling catheters, thus decreasing
their risk of developing UTI.
Conclusions:
* "Use of the bladder scanner may reduce hospital
costs by decreasing the number of intermittent catheterizations,
reducing nursing time, and contributing to an overall
reduction in urinary tract infections and associated
costs." This reduction in the number of intermittent
catheterizations promotes patient comfort and well being,
by decreasing the number of invasive procedures that
patients must undergo.
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