The Rehabilitation unit may present the unit staff with a multitude of varied patient conditions. In many instances patients are recovering from either multiple medical conditions causing multiple system problems, chronic disease, and the aftermath of surgical intervention and recovery of such conditions, or simply advanced age and frail health status.
The Rehabilitation unit may also see patients with recent or chronic neurological problems, acute cerebral vascular accidents, and spinal cord injury. Thus coupled with all other ongoing bladder conditions, the presentation of the neurogenic bladder is more frequent. This presents a need for the institution of various bladder protocols. The BladderScan® is extremely useful in the initiation and continued delivery of these protocols to the rehabilitating patient. One such example is the need to instruct patients in timed voiding schedules and use of pharmacological agents to prevent incontinence in situations of overactive bladder function as a result of neurological disease (like Multiple Sclerosis). Urinary volumes must be monitored regularly to titrate medication against symptoms of urinary frequency, urgency and incontinence. Urinary retention and large residual volume are avoided by bladder volume measurements with the BladderScan. Patients with neurogenic bladders that cease to function may benefit from BladderScan® determination of bladder volume during the institution of Self-Intermittent Catheterization protocols. The advantage of BladderScan® is that all care delivery staff, not just a few 'catheterization specialists', can utilize it. It thus provides for more efficient administration and documentation of care.

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Indications for the use of the BladderScan® for Stroke / Rehabilitation

• Patient with a risk of urinary retention
• Patient with a risk of urinary residue
• Patient who hasn't been able to urinate spontaneously for some time
• At a patient after removing an indwelling catheter
• Patient with incontinency problems
• Patient who is confused and restless
• Patient with a possible obstruction of the urinary tract
• Patient on a bladder retraining program

Experiences of the nursing staff in practice

• The use of the BladderScan® eliminates unnecessary catheterization
• We are able to recognize urine retention in time
• BladderScan® measurement takes less time than a catheterization
• Less unnecessary use of disposables
• Always knowledge of the contents of the bladder
• Less deliberation about the necessity of catheterization
• Minimize risk of urinary tract infection and thus also the use of antibiotic
• Use of the BladderScan® is more friendly to the patient than catheterization
• The BladderScan® contributes to the quality of care of the patient