Intravesical foreign bodies: review and current management strategies

The aim of this study was to evaluate the cause, diagnosis, and management of intravesical foreign bodies in patients treated at our hospital and to review and update management of intravesical foreign bodies reported in the current literature.

Sixteen patients had been treated for intravesical foreign bodies at Nishtar Medical College Hospital, Multan, Pakistan during a 5-year period. Records of these patients were analyzed retrospectively for etiology, presentation, diagnosis, and management.

The age of the patients ranged from 14 to 70 years and 10 of them were men. Seven patients (43.8%) had iatrogenic intravesical foreign bodies, 5 (31.3%) had migrated foreign bodies from the adjacent organs, and 4 (25.0%) had self-introduced foreign bodies into the bladder. The objects included copper wire, carrot, lead pencil, intrauterine device, surgical gauze, pieces of Foley catheter, and teflon beak of resectoscope sheath. The most common presenting symptoms were urinary frequency and dysuria. Endoscopic retrieval was possible in 8 (50.0%) patients, and the remaining underwent open cystostomy.

Intravesical foreign bodies should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with chronic lower urinary tract problems. Radiological evaluation is necessary to determine the exact size, number, and nature of them. The most suitable method for removal of intravesical foreign bodies depends on the nature of the foreign body, age of the patient, and available expertise and equipment. Most intravesical foreign bodies can be retrieved with minimally invasive techniques.