(^396) Medical-Surgical Nursing Demystified
than half full, withdraw from the flow of urine. Allow the patient to finish empty-
ing the bladder. Tightly cap and send to the laboratory immediately.
Urine Flow Studies
Urine flow studies, also known as uroflowmetry, measure the strength and volume
per second of urine flow from the bladder when a patient urinates into a test
machine. They help identify an obstruction or abnormality of the urinary tract and
assist in evaluating how well or poorly a patient is urinating.
Before the test—Explain to the patient not to urinate for a few hours before the test
and to drink enough fluids to develop an urge to urinate. It is not an invasive test.
They will need to void into a flowmeter.Voiding Cystogram
This test involves taking an x-ray image of the bladder and urethra during urina-
tion. A radiopaque contrast material is instilled into the bladder via a Foley
catheter. After x-rays are taken, the catheter is removed. The patient voids while
more x-rays are obtained. This test is performed to look for defects of the urinary
system, for tumors of the bladder, ureters, and urethra, or for reflux of urine from
the bladder to the ureters.
Before the test—Explain to the patient that the presence of the catheter will feel
like the urge to urinate. Obtain informed consent. Check for allergies to contrast
material. Advise the patient to increase po fluids before and after test to aid the kid-
neys in removal of contrast material.Quiz
- Patients with nephrolithiasis or kidney stones need to increase fluid intake.
This is to:
(a) concentrate the urine.
(b) help flush the stones through the urinary tract.
(c) crystallize the struvite from the renal tubules.
(d) break down the stones into smaller pieces that will more easily pass
through the urinary tract.