Volumetric Bladder Ultrasound Training for Pediatric Residents
Volumetric Bladder Ultrasound Training for Pediatric Residents
Monitoring fluid balance is crucial in the care of critically ill children. There are several
 reasons urine output could be decreased. For example, the bladder could be empty because the
 patient isn't making urine due to dehydration, or the bladder could be full but the patient
 unable to urinate due to obstruction of the bladder outlet. It is prudent to distinguish this
 difference in the care of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit patients as the potential
 interventions vary and none is without potential drawbacks if used inappropriately. At
 present, there is no standard way to determine whether an oliguric patient has a bladder that
 is under- or over-filled. Bedside ultrasound is safe, non-invasive, painless, and relatively
 quick and can help assess bladder volume at the time of noted oliguria. Several studies in
 pediatrics endorse the use of ultrasound to approximately measure urine volume. Pediatric
 residents are frequently asked to manage patients' oliguria in the Pediatric Intensive Care
 Unit, however, they are not currently being trained how to use ultrasound to measure bladder
 volume. The investigators hypothesize that following a structured learning plan, by the end
 of their one-month Pediatric Intensive Care Unit rotations, pediatric residents will be able
 to independently and accurately measure bladder volume by ultrasound. Volumetric bladder
 ultrasound is an easily mastered bedside imaging technique. Its implementation could
 positively affect care of the critically ill infant or child.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  medical resident rotating through the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  none