Provide a valuable resource to your clients or customers by linking to this resource page. Just place the following link on your website.
A bladder scanner is a portable ultrasound device that estimates how much urine is inside the bladder. It is placed on the lower abdomen and does not need a catheter. Clinicians use it to check bladder volume before or after urination. It can help screen for urinary retention and guide decisions about catheter use.
read more about bladder scanner ...The scanner sends sound waves into the lower abdomen and measures the echoes that return from the bladder. The device then calculates an estimated bladder volume. Some scanners show an image, while others mainly display a number. Correct probe placement and patient position help make the reading more reliable.
A bladder scanner can be used when someone has trouble urinating, lower abdominal discomfort, weak urine flow, or suspected urinary retention. It can also be used after surgery, after catheter removal, or during bladder training. A post-void scan measures urine left after a person urinates. The result helps the care team decide whether observation, repeat scanning, or catheterization is needed.
Bladder scanning is quick, noninvasive, and can reduce unnecessary catheter use. It can be helpful at the bedside, in clinics, emergency departments, and long-term care settings. Accuracy can be affected by body shape, pregnancy, pelvic masses, ascites, wounds, or poor probe placement. When exact measurement is needed, catheter drainage or another test can still be required.
The probe and device surfaces should be cleaned based on the exam type and product instructions. Gel is used on the skin to help sound waves pass clearly. Staff should check the battery, probe, screen, and software before use. The result should be documented with symptoms, timing, and whether the scan was done before or after urination.
No. A bladder scanner should not hurt, though light pressure on the lower abdomen can feel uncomfortable if the bladder is very full. Tell the clinician if the pressure causes pain.
No. A bladder scanner estimates urine volume with ultrasound from outside the body. A catheter is a tube placed into the bladder to drain urine.
A post-void residual scan checks how much urine is left in the bladder after you urinate. A high amount can suggest urinary retention or incomplete bladder emptying.
No. It estimates bladder volume, but it does not test urine for infection, blood, protein, glucose, or other lab findings. Urine testing can still be needed based on symptoms.
Appendix C. Sample Bladder Scan Policy. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. https://www.ahrq.gov/hai/cauti-tools/impl-guide/implementation-guide-appendix-c.html. Date Accessed May 27, 2026.
How to Use a Bladder Scanner With Adult Patients: Clinician Toolkit. NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation. https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/191062/ACI-Bladder-scanner-clinician-toolkit.pdf. Date Accessed May 27, 2026.
Bladder Post Void Residual Volume. StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539839/. Date Accessed May 27, 2026.
Post-Void Residual Urine Test. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/16423-postvoid-residual. Date Accessed May 27, 2026.
Urinary Retention in Adults: Evaluation and Initial Management. American Family Physician. https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/1015/p496. Date Accessed May 27, 2026.