[Spontaneous rupture of the bladder]

A spontaneous bladder rupture was diagnosed using ultrasound and CT scan in 3 patients, 1 woman aged 62 and 2 men aged 77 and 42, presenting with abdominal pain, anuria and prior problems with urination. The younger man had suffered from this previously; he was now suffering from bacterial peritonitis due to infected urine. All 3 patients recovered after treatment with a transurethral catheter and antibiotics. A transurethral resection was performed on the benign enlarged prostate of the older man. The combination of non-specific symptoms, the absence of trauma history and its very rare occurrence mean that initially a spontaneous bladder rupture may not be suspected. However, an untreated bladder rupture can lead to life-threatening situations. Screening the abdomen with ultrasound, an ultrasound-guided puncture and CT scan may yield results that suggest a bladder rupture. In most cases, conservative treatment with a transurethral catheter will be sufficient. Sometimes surgical repair of a bladder rupture may be necessary.