A cystometrogram tests the pressure inside the bladder. It helps your
health professional determine whether your bladder is contracting (squeezing)
on its own and if so, how well. It also measures how much urine your bladder
can hold. Your health professional uses this information to help determine the
correct bladder management program for your
spinal cord injury.
A small catheter is placed in your bladder and connected to a
machine. The machine will insert water or carbon dioxide gas into your bladder.
You will tell your health professional when you can feel your bladder beginning
to fill or other bladder pressure. Your health professional will also want to
know when you feel you have to urinate and when you can no longer "hold it." At
the same time, your bladder pressure and how much it can hold is measured and
put on a graph.
