[Christmas article: Maximum bladder capacity at an anesthesiology department’s Christmas party]

Christmas parties, a longstanding Danish tradition, became festive occasions in the 1960s. This study examines if healthcare professionals, especially doctors and nurses, have larger bladder capacities than the general population, as they often delay restroom breaks.

At the North Zealand University Hospital Department of Anesthesiology's 2023 Christmas party, participants delayed urination until a strong urge occurred. Bladder volumes were measured using a Biocon-700 ultrasound bladder scanner. The primary endpoint was maximum bladder capacity, which was analysed as a continuous variable and compared with population data from the literature. Data included gender, profession, and scanning time. Statistical analyses were done using t-tests and multiple linear regression analysis.

Of the 60 bladder scans, the average bladder capacity was 644 ml (SD: ± 248 ml). No significant difference was found between healthcare professionals and the general population (p = 0.55). However, excluding measurements within functional capacity (less-than 400 ml), healthcare professionals showed significantly larger maximal bladder capacities. Men and doctors had larger capacities than women and nurses.

Although the primary analysis showed no significant difference, the secondary analysis suggests that healthcare professionals may have larger bladder capacities. Potential limitations include measurement uncertainties and a lack of data on comorbidities. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.