Uroflowmetry (UFM) requires at least 125ml to 150ml of urine volume for an adequate interpretation. It is common to repeat UFM in clinical settings because of an insufficient voided volume, which may be induced by increased anxiety. To reduce performing repeated UFMs, we evaluate the usefulness of performing a prevoiding sonographic bladder scan and we determined the anxiety level before performing UFM.

We enrolled one hundred two patients (mean age: 62.6±15.0 years) who visited our clinic due to voiding dysfunction. The bladder volume prior to UFM was measured by an automated bladder scan (Biocon-500™, Mcube Technology) when the patients felt a strong fullness sensation. All the patients kept a voiding diary for 3 days, and they underwent the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory questionnaire, the fullness scale and UFM.

The mean prevoiding volume was 307±124ml and the mean voided volume was 271±129ml. There was a correlation between the prevoiding scan volume and the voided volume: voided volume=17.502+ (0.724xprevoiding volume) (r=0.851, p<0.001). Among the 333 patients without a bladder scan and who had UFM performed, 25.8% showed insufficient voided volumes of less than 125ml, and 32.4% showed voided volumes of less than 150ml. However, among the 102 patients who underwent a bladder scan, 9.8% showed insufficient voided volumes of less than 125ml and 12.7% showed voided volumes of less than 150ml (p<0.001). The patients who had a higher state of anxiety than trait anxiety before their UFM revealed a relatively decreased functional bladder capacity (p=0.013).

Although UFM is simple, the patient may feel embarrassed before test. Anxiety can cause a decreased functional bladder capacity. A prevoiding sonographic bladder scan can reduce the incidence of insufficiently voided UFM.