Bladder Trauma



Fig. 12.1
Fifteen-year-old status posttrauma. Serial images from retrograde cystourethrogram (a, b) demonstrate extravasation of the contrast material secondary to a traumatic rupture in the bladder neck




  • Postvoid imaging of the UB is important because contrast extravasation may only be seen on postvoid images.




      Ultrasound



      • Ultrasound is an attractive first-line imaging modality for trauma victims in emergency rooms, since it is a cheap, easily applicable, and reproducible noninvasive imaging modality.


      • Ultrasound is most useful for detection of fluid collections and confirmation of correct positioning of drainage catheters.


      • In extraperitoneal rupture, perivesical free fluid of variable echogenicity (usually hypoechoic) can be seen. The UB appears small and contracted, and the UB wall may appear thickened.


      • In cases of intraperitoneal rupture, free fluid is seen within the peritoneal cavity and the UB appears small and contracted.


      Computed Tomography



      • Computed tomography (CT) has become accepted as the imaging modality of choice for patients with multiple injuries, and in light of recent developments in multidetector CT (MDCT) technology, CT is being more commonly used in emergency rooms for evaluation of trauma victims.


      • CT cystography can be used instead of conventional cystography as it allows faster and better anatomical evaluation of not only the UB but also the surrounding organs and bony pelvis.


      • CT cystography involves retrograde filling of the UB with 300–400 ml of (3–5 %) diluted nonionic contrast material and followed by acquisition of contiguous thin slice (5 mm) axial images through the pelvis.


      • Antegrade filling of the bladder by accumulation of intravenously injected contrast material is less reliable than retrograde filling, because it may not result in adequate UB distension, and may lead to a time loss of 15–30 min in the emergency setting.


      • CT cystography images obtained on an MDCT scanner can be easily reformatted in the sagittal and coronal planes (multiplanar reconstruction), allowing construction of lateral and oblique cystography images without additional radiation exposure and without moving the trauma victim with pelvic fractures.


      • The normal uninjured UB appears as a well distended hyper-attenuated structure within the pelvis, without perivesical fat stranding.


      • A classification system for UB injuries, based on cystographic patterns of extravasation in 97 trauma patients described by Sandler et al. in 1986, has been adapted for CT cystography and includes five types of UB injury:

    • Mar 19, 2016 | Posted by in GENITOURINARY IMAGING | Comments Off on Bladder Trauma

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