Study for the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) I. Engage with flashcards and multiple-choice questions with detailed feedback. Prepare confidently!

Multiple Choice

If urine is found in the peritoneal cavity after bladder injury, the rupture is most likely located at the:

Urine in the peritoneal cavity after bladder injury indicates an intraperitoneal bladder rupture. The bladder’s peritoneal covering is only over the superior surface, including the dome; when rupture occurs here, urine spills into the peritoneal cavity. Ruptures of the lateral, posterior walls, or trigone lie in the extraperitoneal space, so urine would accumulate in the pelvis or retroperitoneum rather than the peritoneal cavity. Therefore, the rupture is most likely at the dome (and adjacent anterior part of the bladder where the peritoneal covering extends).

Urine in the peritoneal cavity after bladder injury indicates an intraperitoneal bladder rupture. The bladder’s peritoneal covering is only over the superior surface, including the dome; when rupture occurs here, urine spills into the peritoneal cavity. Ruptures of the lateral, posterior walls, or trigone lie in the extraperitoneal space, so urine would accumulate in the pelvis or retroperitoneum rather than the peritoneal cavity. Therefore, the rupture is most likely at the dome (and adjacent anterior part of the bladder where the peritoneal covering extends).