A Rare Case of Urinothorax as a Result of Penetrating Trauma

Abstract

Urinothorax, defined as urine within the pleural space, is an uncommon finding in published trauma literature. To date, there are less than ten recorded cases of non-iatrogenic trauma-induced urinothorax, most resulting from blunt traumatic injuries from motor vehicle collisions. Given the rarity of the condition, the diagnosis is often missed or delayed. Once the diagnosis is suspected, the most reliable finding is a pleural fluid to serum creatinine ratio of >1. A confirmed diagnosis of urinothorax then requires drainage of pleural fluid and management of distal ureteral obstruction. Unfortunately, the added complexity of the poly-trauma patient obscures this difficult diagnosis often leading to a delay in treatment and prolonged hospital stay. No current published literature exists on penetrating trauma as a cause of urinothorax. Here, we describe a unique case of urinothorax in a 32-year-old male as a result of penetrating trauma.