Question

A patient with suprapubic pain and symptoms of urinary frequency and urgency has two negative urine cultures. What is one assessment finding that would indicate interstitial cystitis?

a. Residual urine greater than 200 mL
b. A large, atonic bladder on urodynamic testing
c. A voiding pattern that indicates psychogenic urinary retention
d. Pain with bladder filling that is transiently relieved by urination

Answer 1

For a patient with interstitial cystitis, pain with bladder filling that is transiently relieved by urination is a key assessment finding that would indicate this condition over other types of cystitis.

Step-by-step explanation:

A patient presenting with suprapubic pain, urinary frequency, and urgency but with negative urine cultures might be experiencing interstitial cystitis (IC). One assessment finding that could indicate IC instead of a bacterial cystitis is d. Pain with bladder filling that is transiently relieved by urination. This symptom correlates with the characteristic discomfort and pain associated with IC that can often be temporarily alleviated following voiding, which provides some degree of relief as the bladder empties and pressure decreases. In contrast, findings such as a) residual urine greater than 200 mL, b) a large, atonic bladder on urodynamic testing, and c) a voiding pattern that indicates psychogenic urinary retention, would not be as indicative of IC.