Bladder Scanning: The Benefits
What is a Bladder Scanner and what does it do?
A Bladder Scanner can quickly and easily create a non-invasive image of the bladder. To clarify, bladder scanners have an ultrasound transducer to reflect sound waves from the patients’ bladder to the bladder scanner. After the transfer of data to the computer, a medical professional will analyze everything.
What are Some Benefits?
It is a preventative procedure that helps reduce the possibility of requiring catheterization later due to bladder complications or infection. In addition, it can help discover postoperative complications like urinary retention or Post void residual (PVR). Other uses of bladder scanners include the identification of a blocked Foley catheter, assessment of bladder status and function after the removal of an indwelling urinary catheter, and as a biofeedback tool in bladder training.
Indicators for a Bladder Scan
Bladder scanning is recommended for patients with the following conditions:
- Post-op decreased urinary output
- An enlarged prostate
- A urethral stricture
- Neurogenic bladder
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Stroke
- Impaired Cognitive Ability
- Renal Calculi or Renal Mass
- Urinary Incontinence
- Diabetes
Are there any side effects of having your bladder scanned?
Most importantly, there are no known side effects of scanning your bladder. It is simply a preventative non-invasive procedure that does not hurt or require any kind of sedation/intubation (hence the non-invasive part). The risks of not scanning your bladder could be much more unpleasant. Simple urinary tract infections can cause adverse effects and even require hospitalization.