Emergency management of lower urinary tract injuries

Trauma to the bladder and (or) urethra mostly occurs in multiple trauma patients and their emergency management often poses problems to both the general surgeon and the urologist. Fourteen cases of bladder rupture and 16 cases of urethral laceration were retrospectively studied, with regard to etiology, trauma mechanism, diagnosis and therapeutic possibilities. Immediate diagnosis and surgical repair are important to reduce mortality and morbidity in cases of bladder rupture. The emergency treatment of urethral injuries is more controversial. The different factors influencing the therapeutic approach are discussed and rational guidelines are suggested to decrease the high complication rate of these injuries.