Published online August 31, 2005
PEDIATRICS Vol. 116 No. 3 September 2005, pp. 797 (doi:10.1542/peds.2005-0385)

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Efficient Bladder Ultrasonography

Jeanine Graf, MD
Department of Pediatrics
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX 77030

To the Editor.—

The article by Chen et al¹ demonstrates the growing utility of portable ultrasound in pediatrics by the nonradiologist.

However, the ultrasound machine used (Sonosite 180; Sonosite Inc, Bothell, WA) is cumbersome. Sonosite requires a practitioner with extensive facility and expertise in handling the instrument. The microconvex transducer is required, and the practitioner must make 2 separate views (transverse and sagittal) of the bladder. The measurements are then used in a formula to estimate a bladder volume. For repeat measurements, the practitioner must repeat the entire procedure.

In contrast, the portable pediatric BladderScan (Diagnostic Ultrasound, Bothell, WA) is a smaller, hand-held device made to measure bladder volumes. With this device, the transducer is held in a single plane. The digital display gives the estimated bladder volume; calculations are not required. If the transducer is not in the correct position, the machine registers a signal to encourage the sonographer to repeat the measurement. The entire procedure takes <10 seconds. BladderScan is currently in use by many nurses (primarily in urology clinics and/or rehabilitation centers) to obtain repeated bladder-volume measurements. Training to use the device takes 1 to 2 hours (as opposed to days or a month with the Sonosite 180). A physician's time is not required, and a separate charge for ultrasound is not billed to the patient.

The BladderScan ultrasound machine cannot be used for other ultrasonographic procedures; its use is limited to the estimation of bladder volumes. However, for the purposes of the Chen et al study, it would seem to be a more efficient, cost-effective ultrasound device that would not require physician time or increase patient cost.

REFERENCE

1. Chen L, Hsiao A, Moore C, Dzuira J, Santucci K. Utility of bedside bladder ultrasound before urethral catheterization in young children. Pediatrics. 2005;115 :108 –111[Abstract/Free Full Text]

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PEDIATRICS (ISSN 1098-4275). ©2005 by the American Academy of Pediatrics

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Efficient Bladder Ultrasonography: In Reply

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Pediatrics 2005 116: 797. [Extract] [Full Text]  

This Article Extract Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services E-mail this article to a friend Related articles in Pediatrics Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My File Cabinet Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Graf, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Graf, J. Related Collections Genitourinary Tract Social Bookmarking                         What's this?