Auscultatory percussion of the urinary bladder.

A volumetric study of the bladder was done in 170 adult male patients examined by auscultatory percussion. The upper border of the urinary bladder was defined and measured in reference to the symphysis pubis to gauge urinary volume. The findings were correlated with the urinary volumes obtained after the bladder had been emptied by voiding in 90 patients without urinary tract disease and in 42 patients who required catheterization. With a bladder level less than 2 cm, none of the patients had a full bladder or a urinary volume of 250 mL. Of the 55 patients with bladder levels of 3 cm or more, 53 patients had full bladders. Catheterizations were timely and avoided frequent and unnecessary catheterization. Residual urinary volumes estimated by auscultatory percussion in 12 patients with obstructive uropathy and 26 patients studied with indwelling catheters correlated closely with the catheterized urinary volumes. Full bladders, obstructive uropathy, and malfunctioning indwelling catheters were readily detected.