Post-Void Residual of 11 mL: Clinical Significance
Primary Assessment
A post-void residual (PVR) of 11 mL is completely normal and indicates excellent bladder emptying function that requires no intervention or further evaluation. 1, 2
Clinical Context and Interpretation
PVR volumes below 100 mL consistently indicate normal bladder emptying. 1, 2
A PVR of 11 mL falls well within the normal range and demonstrates that the bladder is emptying effectively with minimal residual urine remaining after voiding. 1
The American Urological Association guidelines establish that PVR volumes only become concerning when they exceed 100-200 mL, and your measurement is more than 10-fold below this threshold. 1, 2
Evidence-Based Thresholds
The guidelines provide clear stratification of PVR significance:
- 0-100 mL: Normal bladder emptying - no clinical concern 1, 2
- 100-200 mL: Borderline range requiring monitoring 2
200-300 mL: Large PVR indicating significant bladder dysfunction 2, 3
Management Recommendations
No intervention, treatment, or follow-up is required for this PVR measurement. 1, 2
This finding alone does not require medical intervention, medication, or specialist referral. 1
If this measurement was obtained as part of evaluation for urinary symptoms, the symptoms are not related to incomplete bladder emptying. 1, 4
No repeat PVR measurement is necessary unless new voiding symptoms develop in the future. 2
Important Clinical Pearls
PVR measurements have marked intra-individual variability, but at 11 mL, even substantial variation would keep the value well within normal limits. 2, 3, 5
The positive predictive value for bladder outlet obstruction at the 50 mL threshold is 63%, and your measurement is well below even this conservative cutoff. 2
In patients with feelings of incomplete emptying despite low PVR (<50 mL), the sensation is typically related to other lower urinary tract symptoms rather than actual retention. 4, 6