Trial of Void

ABOUT A TRIAL OF VOID

What is a trial of void?

A trial of void is a two-step process. Removing the urinary catheter and then making sure you can pass urine.

Why is a trial of void required?

After the removal of the catheter, we need to ensure that your bladder is emptying appropriately.

Prostate Enlargement

Prostate enlargement, also called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), is a non-cancerous growth of the prostate gland that commonly occurs in men as they age. The prostate surrounds the urethra, so when it enlarges, it can press against the urethra and block urine flow.

PATIENT JOURNEY

What does a trial of void involve?

Removing the catheter is a simple process. A balloon, which is filled with water, is used to hold the catheter in place. Once the balloon is deflated, the catheter is gently removed by slowly withdrawing it. Removal of the catheter only takes a few seconds, with minimal discomfort.

The trial of void however can take up to six hours. This process assesses how well your bladder empties after the catheter is removed.

We encourage you to drink fluids. Once you have passed urine, we perform a bladder scan (ultrasound) to measure the amount of urine left inside your bladder.

This process is repeated several times until we can determine that you can successfully pass urine to empty your bladder.