What it means
A painless test with a portable ultrasound device placed on the lower belly. It shows the volume of urine in the bladder without putting in a catheter. It is used to check for urinary retentionYUR-ih-nair-ee rih-TEN-shunBeing unable to empty the bladder completely, or at all.Full entry , to measure the urine left after voiding (post-void residual), and to decide whether a catheter is needed.
For the nurse
Have the client lie on the back, put gel on the probe, aim it toward the bladder just above the pubic bone and follow the device's steps. For a post-void residual, scan within a few minutes after the client voids.
At a glance
| Also written | bladder scanner |
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Related terms
urinary retention
Being unable to empty the bladder completely, or at all.
urinary catheter
A thin, flexible tube passed through the urethra into the bladder to drain urine.