Published: May 2025. Next review: 2030.
This toolkit supports clinicians to care for adult patients who require bladder scanning.
Bladder scanners assess bladder volume and urinary retention. They emit ultrasound waves that bounce off the bladder. This creates an image that indicates the amount of urine present.
These devices are compact, easy to use, and provide quick results without the need for invasive procedures.
The toolkit includes guidance on:
- indications to conduct a urinary bladder function assessment
- how to measure urinary bladder volume with an ultrasound bladder scanner
- the equipment required, and storage and maintenance of the bladder scanner
- patient characteristics and considerations
- contraindications
- infection prevention and control when using a bladder scanner.
Practical tools are available to:
- assess a clinician’s skills in using a bladder scanner
- provide instructions on cleaning the bladder scanner.
Topics include: