CLINICAL UTILITY OF A PORTABLE ULTRASOUND DEVICE IN INTERMITTENT CATHETERIZATION

Objective: To evaluate the clinical utility of a new portable ultrasou nd device (PUD) in the management of intermittent catheter programs in patients with neuropathic bladder. Design: Intervention study using r andomized control trial. Setting: Tertiary care center providing inpat ient and ambulatory rehabilitation services to persons with neurologic disabilities. Participants: Thirty-eight inpatients and outpatients w ith neuropathic bladders requiring intermittent catheterization. Main Outcome Measures: Mean frequency of intermittent catheterization, mean number of episodes of overdistension, and patient satisfaction as mea sured with a Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire. Results: The mean fre quency of catheterization per day was reduced in the PUD group in comp arison with controls (2.99 vs 4.12, p = .026). The number of episodes of overdistension was also reduced in the PUD group but did not reach statistical significance (12.45 vs 14.76, p = .61). Subjects generally expressed satisfaction with the PUD, with 16 of 18 patients at least somewhat satisfied with the device. Conclusion: The PUD isa useful too l for clinicians in patients undergoing intermittent catheterization p rograms that can reduce the number of required catheters. It is associ ated with a high degree of patient satisfaction. (C) 1998 by the Ameri can Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Ph ysical Medicine and Rehabilitation.