Question

1. How would you assess skin turgor for dehydration during a bladder scan?

2. How would you palpate the abdomen for bladder distention during a bladder scan?

3. Why is ultrasound gel used with a bladder scan?

Answer 1

Skin turgor test

Q. 1

To check the skin turgor the health care provider grasp the skin between two fingers so that it is tented up commonly on the lower arm or the abdomen is checked. The skin is held for few seconds and then released. Skin with normal turgor snaps rapidly back to its normal position.

Assess for clinical sign and symptoms of dehydration include thirst, wright loss, dry mouth ,dry mucous membranes, sunken appearance of eye , decrease of skin turgor , increase capillary refill time ,hypotension, postural hypotension , tachycardia , weak and thready pulses and flat neck vein.

Urine color will also be the indicator of dehydration and overhydration. Normal urine color is aber or light yellow and in case of dehydration it will be dark yellow.

Urine specific gravity can be the indicator for the dehydration. In case of dehydration urine specific gravity will you find increased

The urine will become concentrated in case of dehydration.

The urine amount per day excreted will also be reduced in case of dehydration.

Q. 2

Normally an Empty bladder is not palpable .

A full bladder present as a pelvic mass which is typically regular, smooth , firm and oval shape . It arise in the midline . The lower border can't be felt . The upper border can be reached to the height to the umbilicus. Size may be expressed in finger breadth above the pubic symphysis.

A full bladder may be distinguished from other pelvic masses by the followings:-

- presence of other features of urinary difficulty.

- pain in acute urinary retention.

- discomfort on examination - palpation typically worsen the urge to micturation.

- dullness to percussion.

Q. 3

In ultrasound we use sound wave. The sound wave have a hard time travelling through air , so the gel prevent any extra air space between the probe and the skin of the patient in order to create a clear image of bladder or other internal organs. And patient is advices to come with a full bladder for the clear visualization of the bladder.