Many medical devices might help you to provide better treatment. However, you may not know much about bladder scanners.
The bladder is one of the most vital yet underrecognized human organs. As a medical professional, you may assess bladder performance every day. For example, you may check urine output, perform a urinalysis, and conduct physical exams.
However, some newer technologies greatly over or under or estimate bladder volume. Other devices—such as the VioScan non-invasive ultrasound bladder scanner—make direct bedside evaluation fast and easy. However, you may wonder, “What is a bladder scanner?”
To learn more about what a bladder scanner is and how to use one, keep reading.
What Are Bladder Scanners?
A bladder scan is an imaging test where practitioners use radioactive material to highlight the bladder. A bladder scanner is an ultrasonic imaging device made specifically for the procedure.
You can use the device to pinpoint problems such as vesicoureteral reflux. The device can help you to check for urine flow back through the ureter to the kidney. It can also help you to check for swelling and incomplete emptying.
You may wonder, “Who needs a bladder scanner?” The Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research (AHRQ) has issued the following recommendations regarding bladder scans. It suggests bladder scans for patients who show acute or chronic urinary dysfunction.
However, the AHRQ warns against using the device with patients who have open skin or wounds in the suprapubic region. The agency also warns against using bladder scanners on pregnant patients.
A bladder scan can cause harm to the patient under these conditions. Furthermore, you should not use the device within the range of flammable anesthetics.
In some instances, you may want to use a bladder scan to assess urine retention. If so, it’s important to document any retained urine and patient records.
If a patient retains more than 300 to 500 ml of urine, you should seek a physician recommendation for immediate catheterization. However, it’s important to avoid urinary catheterization.
With a doctor’s approval, you might perform a straight catheterization. If so, you should record any urine captured by the device.
How to Use a Bladder Scanner
Typically, a technician performs a bladder scan in the radiology department. They’d complete the bladder scan procedure under a doctor’s supervision. There’s no special preparation required for the patient.
To begin the procedure, you’d ask the patient to lie down on the scanner table. Next, you’ll clean the urethra. After cleaning, you’ll need to insert a catheter into the bladder.
Once you’ve inserted the catheter, you can use it to introduce radioactive material to the bladder. Now, you can use the bladder scanner to take diagnostic images of the bladder and kidneys.
In some instances, you may need to ask a patient to pass urine during a test. Sometimes, a physician will need to see an image of both a full and empty bladder.
A bladder scan may help you to recognize one of several urinary conditions. For instance, it might help you to identify decreased post-operation urinary output. Alternatively, it may help you to pinpoint an enlarged prostate.
This diagnostic test might also help you to pinpoint a urethral stricture. This condition is when the urethral pathway becomes restricted.
Benefits of a Bladder Scanner
Bladder scans are a viable alternative to urethral catheterization. They can help you to estimate residual urine.
A bladder scan can also help you to reduce incidences of urinary tract infection. Resultantly, the device can help to reduce care costs for patients.
It can also help to reduce the risk of systemic infection due to catheterization. Also, it can help to minimize patient discomfort. Furthermore, it can help to save time.
To date, many medical professionals find that a bladder ultrasound is an accurate and reliable tool for patient diagnosis. You’d require minimal technical skills to perform a bladder scan. However, it’s vital to undergo bladder scan training so that you can interpret diagnostic results correctly.
In some instances, a bladder scan may reveal potentially serious bladder problems. However, a bladder scanner is not a tool for diagnostic pathology.
Primarily, it’s a tool for continence management. You’d use a bladder scanner mostly to measure pre- and post-void residual urine.
In some instances, the results of the scan might prove inconclusive. In other cases, you may notice a concerning abnormality. In either case, you’ll need to refer a patient for further investigation by a physician.
Putting Bladder Scanners to Use
Some nurses may feel intimidated by using a bladder scanner. Instead, it’s beneficial to think about how a bladder scanner can help to enhance care.
Because it’s an imaging tool, you might think that you need a high level of expertise to use the device. However, as long as you receive adequate clinical training, you can use it effectively.
A bladder scanner produces real-time images that are easy to evaluate. It also provides valuable results that can help you to improve patient care.
Choose the Right Supplier for Your Bladder Scanner
Now you know the answer to the question, “What is a bladder scanner?” If you want a reliable device for a clinical setting, however, you’ll need a trustworthy supplier.
If you’re looking for the best bladder scanner on the market, Outpatient Supply is the manufacturer and distributor of the VioScan non-invasive ultrasound bladder scanner.
We’re a leading developer and distributor of premium medical equipment in the United States. We have a well-earned reputation for delivering cutting-edge devices for medical practice.
Our firm specializes in creating and distributing medical technology for various settings, from operating rooms to physicians’ offices. More importantly, however, we’re more than medical equipment suppliers—we’re your partner in the field.
Contact an Outpatient Supply representative at (727) 853-6383 or connect with us online. We’re ready and waiting to deliver cost-effective, superior medical equipment for your organization.