A 28-year-old male is brought to the emergency department after a severe crush injury to his pelvis at a construction site. He is hemodynamically stable. Physical examination reveals a pelvic binder in place, blood at the urethral meatus, and a high-riding prostate on digital rectal examination. A FAST exam is negative. He has a palpable, distended bladder and reports a strong urge to urinate. Arrange the following diagnostic and therapeutic steps in the most appropriate chronological order for the urologic management of this patient.
- 1Perform retrograde urethrography
- 2Place a suprapubic catheter
- 3Perform computed tomography cystography
- 4Perform delayed surgical urethroplasty
Cevap
The correct sequence is to first perform retrograde urethrography, followed by placement of a suprapubic catheter, then computed tomography cystography, and finally, delayed surgical urethroplasty.
The management of posterior urethral injuries follows a strict protocol to prevent exacerbation of the injury and associated long-term complications. The presentation of blood at the meatus, a high-riding prostate, and a pelvic fracture suggests a posterior urethral disruption. The immediate first step is retrograde urethrography (RUG) to visualize the urethra and confirm the diagnosis. Once confirmed, urethral catheterization is strictly contraindicated, making the placement of a suprapubic catheter the next necessary step to drain the distended bladder safely. After securing bladder drainage, the bladder itself must be evaluated for rupture using CT cystography (or a conventional cystogram), as bladder injuries frequently co-occur with pelvic ring fractures. Finally, definitive surgical repair (open urethroplasty) is delayed for 3 to 6 months. This delay allows the pelvic hematoma to organize and inflammation to subside, which significantly decreases the risk of postoperative erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence.
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Anahtar Kavram
Sequential management of suspected posterior urethral injury in the setting of acute pelvic trauma.
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