DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sjams.2025.v13i07.008

Pages: 1399-1404

Background: Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) can lead to chronic inflammation and morphological changes in the bladder, such as a thickened wall. Ultrasonography is a non-invasive tool to assess these changes. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the dynamic changes in bladder wall thickness (BWT) before and after voiding in Sudanese patients with a history of recurrent UTIs using transabdominal ultrasonography. Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive study included 92 adult participants (54.3% female, 45.7% male) with a mean age of 49.5 ± 16.1 years, all with a history of recurrent UTIs. Transabdominal ultrasound was performed to measure anterior and posterior BWT, pre-void bladder volume (PBV), and post-void residual volume (PVR). Bladder emptying efficiency (BEE) was calculated. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Pearson correlation, and chi-square tests. Results: The mean anterior BWT increased significantly from 3.7 ± 1.2 mm pre-voiding to 5.1 ± 1.2 mm post-voiding. Similarly, posterior BWT increased significantly after voiding. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test confirmed that these changes in both anterior and posterior wall thickness were statistically significant (Z = -8.023 and Z = -6.598, respectively; p < .001 for both). A significant negative correlation was observed between age and BEE (r = -0.228, p = 0.029) Conclusion: The study demonstrates a significant increase in bladder wall thickness after voiding in patients with recurrent UTIs. It also highlights that bladder emptying efficiency is influenced by age and gender in this population. Post-void BWT measurement may serve as a valuable sonographic marker for assessing bladder changes related to chronic infection.