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.