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Abstract
Objective. To evaluate the reliability of estimates of bladder volume (BV) in children made with the BladderScan® BVI 2500 (BS) and their agreement with standard ultrasound (US) measurements. Material and methods. BV was measured using both US and BS in 92 children (41 females, 51 males; age range 3 months to 16 years) who underwent standard US measurements for various reasons. Patients were stratified into three groups according to age (3–35, 36–83 and >83 months) and BV (<20%, 20–50% and >50% of expected bladder capacity for age). US and BS measurements were compared by means of the percentage difference and Pearson's correlation coefficient (r); limits of clinical agreement were evaluated by means of Bland–Altman analysis. Results. Overall, a difference of −12.9% and a correlation coefficient of r=0.98 were found between US and BS. The percentage difference was higher in younger patients (−27.8%) and for low volumes (−24.8%). Correlation analysis confirmed this trend in different age (3–35 months, r=0.74; 36–83 months, r=0.93; >83 months, r=0.97) and BV (<20%, r=0.70; 20–50%, r=0.94; >50%, r=0.97) groups. Bland–Altman analysis showed large limits of clinical agreement between the two methods in terms of overall measurements (−45 to 29.3 ml) and in both age (−25.3 to 56.9 ml) and BV (−27.5 to 52.5 ml) groups. Conclusions. A good correlation between US and BS measurements of BV was found in children aged >7 years and in those with a BV >20% of expected bladder capacity. Thus, BS avoids the need for standard US equipment to assess BV for schoolchildren with voiding dysfunction. Nevertheless, a dedicated BS instrument should be used in younger children.