[Use in daily urological practice of an ultrasound device for measuring bladder volume].
BACKGROUND
Bladder volume estimation is an everyday necessity in urology, especially for evaluation of the postvoid residual volume (PVR). The Bladder-Scan is a portable, noninvasive ultrasound device for bladder volume estimation. This study was designed to assess the value of the Bladder-Scan to measure PVR in routine hospital urological practice.


METHODS
A prospective study was conducted from 1/12/1999 to 30/4/2000 with systematic use of the Bladder-Scan to measure PVR. Four operators performed three consecutive measurements of PVR and noted the following data: age, gender, history, type of disease and place of examination. The main endpoint was the need to use a complementary investigation to confirm or invalidate the result obtained.


RESULTS
PVR was determined in 250 consecutive patients (167 males, 83 females): 191 patients admitted to the urology department, 36 patients seen in the emergency room and 23 patients seen in other departments of the hospital. PVR was estimated to be between 0 and 400 cc (median: 72 cc) for 181 patients (72%), between 400 cc and 750 cc (median: 521 cc) in 50 patients (20%) and between 750 cc and 1000 cc (median: 942 cc) for 19 patients (8%). A control of the measurement was required for 27% of patients (68/250) using catheterism (n = 53) or sonography (n = 15). In this sub-group, the value of the ICC (intra-class correlation coefficient) for the measurement of the bladder volume using the Bladder-Scan and measurement of the volume controlled by sonography or catheterism was of 0.9888 (significance < 0.0001/nil hypothesis ICC = 0).


CONCLUSIONS
The Bladder-Scan provides a "third hand" in the urologist's daily practice, by supplying a reliable and rapid assessment of bladder volume for volumes < 750 cc. It is a good tool for the evaluation of postvoid residual volume.
Roupret
Morgan
M
Service d'urologie et de transplantation rénale et pancréatique, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpétrière Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris VI 83, boulevard de l'Hôpital 75013 Paris, France. mroupret@club-internet.fr
Chartier-Kastler
Emmanuel
E
Hopirtean
Vincent
V
Barret
Eric
E
Haertig
Alain
A
Richard
François
F
D003950:Diagnostic Techniques, Urological / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards; D014546:Urinary Catheterization; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014563:Urodynamics; D014572:Urology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards; D014573:Urology Department, Hospital