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The accuracy of Bladderscan in intrapartum care

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Abstract

This study was carried out to ascertain whether the Bladderscan machine is accurate in the measurement of bladder volume of women in labor. This would help avoid unnecessary intervention for a significant number of women who have small bladder volumes. Fifty women had a Bladderscan measurement during labor which was compared with an immediately obtained catheter volume. The overall correlation was weak (r = 0.593) but was influenced by the absence or presence of amniotic fluid. In women with ruptured membranes the relationship between Bladderscan volume and catheter-obtained volume was good (r = 0.851), but poor if the membranes were intact (r = 0.128). The Bladderscan may have a role in measuring bladder volume in women in labor and may therefore reduce the frequency of unnecessary catheterization, with the inherent increased incidence of urinary tract infection.

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Abbreviations

BMI:

body mass index

References

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful for the assistance and participation of all the midwives at Torbay Hospital and also the Torbay Special Projects Committee who helped with this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Torbay Hospital, Torquay, Devon, TQ2 7AA, UK

    J. W. Barrington, A. S. Arunkalaivanan & M. Abdel Fattah

Authors
  1. J. W. Barrington
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  2. A. S. Arunkalaivanan
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  3. M. Abdel Fattah
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. W. Barrington.

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Editorial Comment:

This study would seem to indicate that the use of a bladder scan to determine urine volume is inaccurate, in that it cannot differentiate urine from amniotic fluid. Bladder scan may have a role in measuring bladder volume in women in labour and may therefore reduce the frequency of unnecessary catheterization with the inherent increased incidence of urinary tract infection.

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Barrington, J.W., Arunkalaivanan, A.S. & Abdel Fattah, M. The accuracy of Bladderscan in intrapartum care. Int Urogynecol J 14, 214–215 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-002-1027-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-002-1027-y

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