Penis : Bleeding ( penile bleeding ) triage

In the acute General Practitioner (GP) Out-of-Hours (OOH) setting, triaging penile bleeding is a crucial process that requires prompt and efficient assessment due to the potential for underlying serious conditions. The primary goal is to quickly differentiate between cases that may require immediate medical intervention from those that can be managed conservatively or with scheduled follow-up. Triage involves gathering detailed information on the onset, potential causes, associated symptoms, and any relevant medical history, including recent trauma, catheter use, medication intake, and exposure to sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Given the diverse etiology of penile bleeding, ranging from minor injuries to severe urological conditions, a structured triage questionnaire aids in identifying the urgency of each case. This includes assessing for signs of systemic involvement, possible urethral trauma, especially in younger patients, and the risk factors for serious underlying diseases such as cancers or coagulopathies.