Annual Report 2021

2021 Equipment in focus: bladder scanners

In a medical setting, there’s more to peeing than just emptying your bladder.

You may feel you have go to the toilet for a wee very often without passing much, which could be a result of swelling creating the sensation of a full bladder where there isn’t one — or you might have lots of wetting accidents. That can be a problem, too, as retained urine is a reservoir for bacteria and pathogens, which can cause urinary tract infections leading to damage of the renal structures and pain. There are many reasons why you might need to have a bladder scan, but avoiding infection is a big one, as is the monitoring of potential problems following childbirth, surgery or removal of a catheter.

Additionally: “It’s important to know how much residual urine is in the bladder to indicate how you handle the patient,” said Kristy Surette, Nurse Manager for Women’s and Children’s Services.

In 2021, Yarmouth Hospital Foundation purchased two of the latest portable bladder scanners for Yarmouth Regional Hospital, totalling $36,000. One unit is shared by Women’s and Children’s Services and the OR, while the second serves the 3rd and 4th floors.

The upgrade from an unreliable older unit was gratefully received as a vast improvement in terms of accuracy and ease of use, Kristy said. “It’s better for patient comfort, a lot less invasive and more accurate.”

“We’re very thankful to the foundation,” she said. “It’s so much better for patient care.”