UroNurse Episode 115: Voiding Trials, What's the Best Way to Do These?

Voiding trials are a critical component in determining whether a patient can effectively empty their bladder after surgery or catheterization. These trials involve removing the catheter and assessing the patient's ability to void naturally while monitoring post-void residual (PVR) urine volume. Traditionally, there are two main methods: spontaneous and bladder filled-assisted trials. A spontaneous voiding trial involves removing the catheter and allowing the patient to attempt voiding on their own, while the bladder filled-assisted trial includes filling the bladder prior to the removal of the catheter to measure the PVR. Both approaches have their advantages, but research suggests that spontaneous voiding trials may be less invasive and better tolerated by patients, though some practitioners prefer bladder filled-assisted trials. After the recent SUNA Conference, UroNurse launched a survey to gather more insights on the best practice model. Our findings, along with the research presented at the conference, highlight the pros and cons of both methods. Spontaneous trials may offer quicker recovery and patient comfort, while bladder filled-assisted trials provide faster post-void residual (PVR) measurement in complex cases. Diane K. Newman, DNP, FAAN, BCB-PMD, a leading expert in urology and continence care will be joining our expert panel as we discuss these insights and survey results in our upcoming episode.