A 26-year-old woman is rushed to the operating room after a primary and secondary survey in the emergency department. She was hit by a small truck as she was riding her bicycle through a busy intersection. She has sustained rib fractures and several fractured transverse vertebral processes. Renal injury is suspected. As the circulator prepares to insert a urinary catheter, she notices blood at the urinary meatus. What should the circulator's next action be?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In these instances an indwelling urethral catheter should not be inserted. Laceration of the kidney is closely associated with fracture of the ribs and transverse vertebral processes. This injury is detected by the presence of blood at the urinary meatus. Blood at the urinary meatus may indicate a tear in the anterior urethra.

A 26-Year-Old Woman Is Rushed to the Operating Room After