Management of blunt intraperitoneal bladder rupture: Case report and literature review

An uncommon and easily overlooked case: Delayed intraperitoneal bladder rupture following blunt trauma: A case report and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Delayed intraperitoneal bladder rupture is a rare clinical occurrence, frequently overlooked and misdiagnosed due to its nonspecific clinical manifestations. However, literature provides only a limited number of cases reporting delayed intraperitoneal bladder rupture resulting from blunt abdominal injury.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 72-year-old female pedestrian was struck by a vehicle and experienced sudden, severe abdominal pain on the 8th day following the injury. Abdominal B-ultrasound revealed a significant accumulation of peritoneal effusion. The abdominal puncture retrieved serosanguinous ascites. Then the patient was promptly transferred to our hospital. Upon transfer, the physical examination revealed the patient vital signs to be stable, accompanied by mild abdominal distension, slight tenderness, tension, and an absence of rebound tenderness. Urinalysis detected microscopic hematuria, while contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed considerable fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity, without evidence of solid organ damage, and the bladder was adequately filled.

DIAGNOSIS

The diagnosis of delayed intraperitoneal bladder rupture primarily relied on intraoperative observations.

INTERVENTIONS

An emergency exploratory laparotomy was performed, revealing a linear rupture at the dome of the bladder. Subsequently, the bladder rupture was repaired.

OUTCOMES

Postoperative cystography demonstrated full recovery and the patient was discharged 28 days post-surgery. The postoperative recovery was uneventful without any complications.

CONCLUSIONS

A well-distended bladder observed in CT does not definitively rule out the potential for bladder injury. False negatives may occur due to incomplete bladder filling during CT cystography. Retrograde cystography can identify cases missed by CT cystography. In cases of substantial intra-abdominal free fluid, surgical intervention should be actively considered for patients with blunt abdominal trauma without concurrent solid organ damage.

Spontaneous Rupture of the Urinary Bladder in an Elderly Diabetic Male

Spontaneous rupture of the urinary bladder (SRUB) represents an infrequent but critical urological crisis with significant morbidity and mortality risk especially in cases of septicemia. While various factors contribute to its etiology, SRUB often manifests secondary to pre-existing bladder pathologies such as chronic inflammation, neoplasia, iatrogenic radiation exposure, or obstructive uropathy. An 82-year-old male presented with acute, left-lateralized abdominal discomfort. Clinical evaluation revealed diffuse erythema and swelling within the left lower abdominal quadrant, indicative of cellulitis. Pelvic sonographic imaging detected a 4 cm fluid collection, coupled with cellulitis in the left anterolateral segment of the lower abdominal wall, stemming from a discernible defect in the anterosuperior aspect of the bladder. Drainage of 1600 cc of purulent urine was achieved via a 16-Fr urethral catheter (Safety Science Medical Company, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia). Subsequent pelvic computed tomography and cystographic studies elucidated a pathological communication between the anterior bladder wall and the left lateral abdominal wall, along with a localized urinoma. The present case underscores the imperative nature of immediate therapeutic intervention in the effective management of SRUB. Successful surgical repair and a complication-free postoperative trajectory were observed, enriching the prevailing medical literature on SRUB. The case amplifies the necessity for acute awareness, expedient diagnostic procedures, and urgent surgical intervention as key elements in optimizing patient outcomes.

Does a time threshold exist for bladder repair after which outcomes worsen? A Trauma Quality Improvement Program study

BACKGROUND

The appropriate timing of surgical intervention for bladder injuries is not well-defined. The effect of time to surgery on the outcomes of patients with a bladder injury was assessed using data from the Trauma Quality Improvement Program.

METHODS

Patients with dominant or isolated bladder injuries who underwent surgical repair from 2017 to 2019 were studied. Mortality, infection (surgical site infection or sepsis), acute kidney injury, overall length of stay, and length of stay after surgery were compared between patients who underwent bladder repair within and after 24 hours of arrival at the emergency department. The role of time to surgical repair in the outcomes of patients with a bladder injury was evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 1,507 patients with a mean time to bladder repair of 14.0 hours were studied. In total, 233 (15.5%) patients with a bladder injury underwent bladder repair more than 1 day after emergency department arrival. These patients had significantly more infections (5.6% vs 2.5%, P = .011), more acute kidney injuries (7.8% vs 1.8%, P < .001), and a longer length of stay after surgery (16.0 vs 12.3 days, P = .001) than patients who underwent bladder repair within 1 day. A time to bladder repair longer than 24 hours after emergency department arrival did not significantly affect mortality (P = .075) but significantly increased the risk of infection/acute kidney injury (odds = 1.823, P = .040). However, the infection/acute kidney injury risk did not increase with increasing time to surgery in patients who underwent bladder repair within 24 hours (P = .120).

CONCLUSION

Patients with dominant or isolated bladder injuries may have a poor outcome (ie, increased infection rate, acute kidney injury, longer overall length of stay, and longer length of stay after bladder repair) if they undergo surgical repair more than 24 hours after arrival at the emergency department.

Delayed Iatrogenic Bladder Rupture Diagnosed by POCUS in the Emergency Department

Bladder rupture is an uncommon injury that leads to significant morbidity and mortality. Though occurring mostly due to trauma, this life-threatening pathology may also occur spontaneously or after a procedure such as transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). Computed tomography (CT) cystography is the standard imaging modality for diagnosis. However, this test is unlikely to be ordered in a patient with undifferentiated abdominal pain unless there is specific suspicion for this diagnosis. In our emergency department, a 48 year-old male with history of bladder cancer and TURBT two weeks prior to arrival presented with severe abdominal pain and difficulty urinating for 3 days. Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) revealed an irregularly shaped bladder, likely site of bladder rupture, and large amount of abdominal free fluid with sediment. These findings prompted an expedited diagnostic CT scan with cystography. Emergent exploratory laparotomy ultimately confirmed a small bladder defect with 2.5 L of urinary ascites. The diagnosis of non-traumatic bladder rupture can be overlooked in patients presenting with a peritonitic abdominen. The typically ordered test for such patients is standard CT, which carries a high false-negative rate for bladder rupture. This case highlights the utility of POCUS in facilitating a rapid diagnosis.

Pseudo-Renal Failure in the Context of Traumatic Bladder Rupture

The bladder is both an intraperitoneal and extraperitoneal structure. Its anatomical position increases its risk of rupture. The resultant urine leak or extravasation can be intraperitoneal, extraperitoneal, or even both-with the former leading to more sinister outcomes. Intraperitoneal bladder rupture can lead to urinary ascites which along with anuria and abdominal pain, can present with an apparent abrupt decline in renal function as the creatinine-rich products diffuse across the peritoneal membrane. Glomerular filtration rate, a measure of kidney function is related to the levels of serum creatinine. Clinicians can therefore misdiagnose their patient with acute kidney injury when the serum creatinine is elevated as a consequence of urine being present in the peritoneal space.  This is a case report of a 62-year-old male with pseudo-renal failure following intraperitoneal bladder rupture after a fall face-forwards three hours previously. The fall was due to icy conditions outside and no preceding symptoms were reported. He presented to the Accident and Emergency department with abdominal pain and no other positive symptoms. The patient had a good World Health Organisation (WHO) performance status with a background of hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia. The bedside examination of the patient revealed a distended, abdomen with peritonitis. There were no signs of urogenital trauma. Blood testing revealed a low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and raised creatinine (eGFR of 7 millilitres/minute and creatinine of 658 micromoles/litre). Computerised tomography examination of the abdomen and pelvis (CTAP) revealed free fluid within the peritoneal cavity and an irregular bladder wall. A CT cystogram and consultation with urology led to the diagnosis of intraperitoneal bladder rupture. The patient's renal function from an initial set of blood tests was reduced. This was not a true impairment in renal function but rather a complication secondary to extravasation of urine in the intraperitoneal space, ie., pseudo renal failure. This supposed impairment in renal function had numerous implications. It affected the choice of antibiotics; amoxicillin and gentamicin were given at a reduced dose due to the patient's renal function and the patient was prepared for operation theatre. The patient's blood creatinine was falsely elevated at 658 micromoles/litre due to the diffusion of creatinine from the free urine in the peritoneal space into the blood. This painted a false image of renal failure and protracted the clinical decision-making process. Relatively simple measures like an ascitic tap could have helped to differentiate this from a true acute kidney injury and could have resulted in quicker and more effective treatment of this patient.  The patient went on to have bladder repair under urology. His follow-up cystogram four weeks post-operation did not show any leak.

Bladder rupture after pembrolizumab immunotherapy for bladder cancer: a case report

Pembrolizumab is a promising checkpoint inhibitor for advanced urothelial carcinoma. Like other immunotherapies, it can cause rare immune-related adverse events. The spontaneous rupture of the urinary bladder after the intravenous injection of pembrolizumab is rare and has not been reported. Here, we present a 74-year-old man patient case of locally advanced transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder who presented severe abdominal pain the same day of the second dose of pembrolizumab administration. The exploratory laparotomy revealed intraperitoneal rupture of the urinary bladder associated with peritonitis. After surgical repair, the patient's condition improved. The purpose of this report is to discuss the possible association of bladder perforation in bladder cancer with pembrolizumab immunotherapy, its management, and the importance of early recognition to prevent more fatal complications.

Extraordinarily Rare Isolated Intraperitoneal Urinary Bladder Rupture in Blunt Abdominal Injury Without Pelvic Fracture: An Aide-Mémoire

Isolated urinary bladder rupture caused by blunt abdominal trauma is an infrequent injury, with less than 2% of all cases. It is most often found in traffic accidents and is usually associated with pelvic fractures. While an extraperitoneal bladder injury is mostly treated conservatively, an intraperitoneal one is mostly treated surgically. We present a 54-year-old obese man injured in a traffic accident, with an intraperitoneal rupture of the bladder after blunt abdominal trauma with no signs of pelvic fracture and without signs of traumatic injury to the abdominal organs. The vignette case constitutes a bladder injury that was treated surgically and sutured in two layers with absorbable thread, with the placement of a urinary catheter. The patient recovered without complications and was discharged from the ward on the seventh postoperative day. Of note, the clinical presentation of a bladder rupture can be manifested as a nonspecific lower abdominal pain or with symptoms of an acute abdomen and that is why imaging plays a major role in the diagnosis and further treatment procedures. Surgical treatment of such injuries can be performed laparoscopically or as open surgery. To this end, rapid diagnosis of bladder rupture is necessary because it can lead to complications that endanger patients if overlooked.

Traumatic extraperitoneal bladder rupture in the absence of pelvic fracture in a patient with pelvic organ prolapse: A case report and review of the literature

Introduction and importance

Traumatic bladder rupture is a rare occurrence. It is more likely to occur following blunt injury and is associated with pelvic fractures in patients presenting with hematuria. We present a unique case of an extraperitoneal bladder rupture in a female after sustaining a minor fall in the absence of a pelvic fracture.

Presentation of case

The patient is a morbidly obese female with a history of vaginal vault prolapse who reported profuse vaginal bleeding and lower abdominal and suprapubic pain shortly after falling off of her bed. The patient showed no signs of hemodynamic instability and genital bleeding was ruled out in the emergency department. A Computed Tomography (CT) cystogram confirmed bladder rupture confined to the extraperitoneal space without any evidence of pelvic fractures.

Discussion

Blunt traumatic extraperitoneal bladder rupture is typically associated with concomitant pelvic fracture. These injuries tend to occur as a result of high-impact motor vehicle or motorcycle collisions and are associated with an increased morbidity and mortality.

Conclusion

Dedicated bladder imaging should be considered in blunt abdominopelvic trauma patients presenting with hematuria in the absence of pelvic fracture when the patient's underlying medical conditions or comorbidities increase the risk of bladder rupture. Our patient's history of pelvic organ prolapse placed her at an increased risk of traumatic injury to the bladder.

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Traumatic bladder rupture is a rare occurrence which is more likely to occur following blunt injury and is associated with pelvic fractures in patients presenting with hematuria.

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Traumatic bladder rupture tends to occur as a result of high-impact motor vehicle or motorcycle collisions and is associated with an increased morbidity and mortality.

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CT cystography is the initial imaging modality of choice in the acute setting for suspected bladder rupture.

Pseudorenal failure as a delayed presentation of a traumatic urinary bladder rupture

The urinary bladder is less susceptible to traumatic injury than other abdominal organs, due to its anatomical location behind the pubic bone. As a result, intraperitoneal urinary bladder ruptures are a rare consequence of blunt abdominal trauma and most often occur in the context of high energy and multitraumas. However, a distended bladder is more vulnerable to burst rupture even from a minor trauma, and in case of an isolated bladder injury, presentation can be delayed. We describe a case in which a patient presented 4 days after a minor blunt trauma, with an acute abdomen and pseudorenal failure as the main clinical signs of urinary ascites due to a significant bladder rupture. As an intraperitoneal bladder rupture is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and should be treated surgically, it should always be considered in patients presenting with anuria, ascites and increased serum creatinine after abdominal trauma.

Imaging Review of Pelvic Ring Fractures and Its Complications in High-Energy Trauma

Pelvic ring fractures are common in high-energy blunt trauma, especially in traffic accidents. These types of injuries have a high rate of morbidity and mortality, due to the common instability of the fractures, and the associated intrapelvic vascular and visceral complications. Computed tomography (CT) is the gold standard technique in the evaluation of pelvic trauma because it can quickly and accurately identify pelvic ring fractures, intrapelvic active bleeding, and lesions of other body systems. To properly guide the multidisciplinary management of the polytrauma patient, a classification criterion is mandatory. In this review, we decided to focus on the Young and Burgess classification, because it combines the mechanism and the stability of the fractures, helping to accurately identify injuries and related complications.

Role of Ultrasonography in Intraperitoneal Bladder Rupture With Delayed Presentation

Delayed presentation of intraperitoneal rupture of the urinary bladder in a child after blunt trauma is a rare occurrence. On ultrasonography, diagnosis of bladder injuries has been sparsely reported in the literature. We report a case of intraperitoneal bladder rupture in a four-year-old child and describe the role of ultrasonography in providing a prompt and accurate diagnosis of the entity as mortality increases if surgical repair is delayed. On high-resolution ultrasonography, rent was noted in the urinary bladder dome with fluid collection in the paracolic gutters and between loops of the small bowel. Peritoneocentesis demonstrated urine and the child was taken up for laparoscopic repair of the bladder tear, which was visualized at the bladder dome. Cystogram performed at one week was unremarkable and the post-operative period was uneventful with no complaints at a one-month follow-up.

Treatment of complicated bladder rupture with novel percutaneous interventional treatment technique

Bladder rupture (BR) is very rare and usually occurs after high-energy events. Although high success rates have been reported for surgical intervention, it has not been clearly stated in the literature what could be done in cases where surgery has been unsuccessful. In this case report, we aimed to demonstrate that we provided treatment with the novel interventional technique in our young patient whose urinary leakage and sepsis persisted despite repeated surgeries and prolonged nephrostomy catheter drainage.