A 53-year-old male patient presented to the emergency department with a history of hematuria 1 day after right inguinal mesh repair. The point-of-care ultrasonographic assessment revealed bladder distention with a heterogeneously hyperechoic intravesical volume of approximately 330 to 350 mL, consistent with hematoma (Fig. 1). Despite bladder irrigation, hematuria persisted. Further evaluation via computed tomography urography identified a substantial intravesical hematoma (Fig. 2) and a discrete defect in the bladder's superolateral wall (Figs. 3, 4), accompanied by an adjacent collection in the right lower abdomen, implying a bladder rupture with an associated hematoma. The intervention entailed surgical evacuation of the hematoma and repair of the bladder wall. Postoperative imaging demonstrated the absence of any residual pathologies, signifying a comprehensive resolution of the initial presentation.
Bladder injury is a complication of laparoscopic surgery; its reported incidence is 0.5% in general surgery and 2% in gynecology [1]. This case underscores the pivotal role of emergency medicine in the early diagnosis and management of bladder hematoma in patients presenting with hematuria after surgical procedures. Using point-of-care ultrasound, which is a rapid and noninvasive diagnostic tool, emergency medicine practitioners can promptly identify a bladder hematoma, facilitating timely intervention and optimal patient care.