Bladder filling reduces femoral artery wall distension and strain: beware of a full bladder!

During a previous study, we noted that the distension and strain of the femoral artery were relatively low when the bladder was full, a situation normally necessary for transabdominal echography. Therefore, in the present study we investigated the influence of bladder filling, if any, on wall properties of the common femoral artery. The results obtained were compared with those obtained in the common carotid artery. The study was performed on the right common carotid and right common femoral arteries of normotensive young (18-35 y) female volunteers (n = 24). Using a specially designed ultrasonic wall-tracking device and automatic brachial artery cuff blood pressure measurements, arterial distension (absolute change in diameter during the cardiac cycle; deltaD), strain (deltaD/D), and cross-sectional distensibility (DC) and compliance (CC) were determined before and after voiding. Distension and strain of the common femoral artery were significantly lower for a full than for an empty bladder. DC and CC were lower when the bladder was filled, but these differences did not reach the level of significance. Blood pressure as measured at the level of the brachial artery and heart rate were not statistically significantly different during a full or an empty bladder. It is concluded that bladder filling affects femoral artery wall properties, an observation that should be kept in mind when performing studies on artery wall properties at this level of the circulation.