Automated bladder scan urine volumes are not reliable in complex neonatal cases.

Abstract

We investigate the accuracy of urine volumes obtained by an automated bladder scan in complex neonatal cases. Automated bladder scan determinations of urine volumes were obtained by neonatal intensive care unit nursing staff in 10 patients with myelodysplasia and cloacal exstrophy. Urine volumes were then immediately obtained by straight catheterization. Correlation between the scan and catheter volumes was then evaluated across and within cases. There was low correlation between automated bladder scan volume and catheter volume across and within cases (0.037 +/- 0.37) and (0.188 +/- 0.12), respectively. Using a cutoff of 20 cc 25% of significant volumes were missed. The 95% confidence interval from these data indicates that a significant volume is missed 7% to 25% of the time. We urge clinicians to exercise caution in the use of automated bladder scanners for determination of urine volumes in complex neonatal intensive care unit cases.