Olga Rachel Brook MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Alexander Brook PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Michalle Soudack MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

We evaluated the feasibility of a urine sensor for Voiding Cysto-Urethrography (VCUG) and its implications for fluoroscopy time reduction.

Institutional Review Board approved the study protocol. Study population included children less than five years old referred to our institution for VCUG. Patients with known vesicoureteral reflux or any pacing device were excluded from the study. The urine sensor consists of an electrode that senses the fluid, an electrical circuit and an indicator to provide visual signal. The device was determined to be safe for patients by the Hospital Review Committee. The urine sensor electrode was placed on the medial thigh in the proximity of the catheter close to the urethral opening, but without direct contact to it. A standard VCUG examination was performed with retrograde filling of the urinary bladder. Once the bladder was full, fluoroscopy of the voiding stage was initiated when the indicator blinked. Peak kV and total fluoroscopy time for examination were recorded.

Seven patients underwent VCUG with urine sensor and twenty-two patients without urine sensor. The urine sensor provided a reliable indication of voiding onset. For the whole study population, the fluoroscopy time was significantly shorter with urine sensor use (1.99 min) than without urine sensor use (4.33 min) (p=0.001). In the subset  of patients with normal VCUG, fluoroscopy time was also significantly shorter with urine sensor use (2.13 min) than without urine sensor use (4.39 min) (p<0.001).

VCUG studies with aid of the urine sensor are feasible. The urine sensor allowed two-fold reduction in fluoroscopy time of the VCUG examination.

Application of urine sensor halved the fluoroscopy time needed to perform diagnostic VCUG in patients under 5 years old.

Brook, O, Brook, A, Soudack, M, Urine Sensor Reduces Fluoroscopy Time in Pediatric Voiding Cystourethrography.  Radiological Society of North America 2009 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 29 - December 4, 2009 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2009/8005639.html