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Published on: June 16, 2022
Forensic implications in self-insertion of urethral foreign bodies
Rafael Boscolo-Berto1, Massimo Iafrate, Guido Viel
1Department of Oncological and Surgical Sciences, Urology Clinic, University of Padua, Italy.
The Canadian Journal of Urology
|February 17, 2010
Summary
A man inserted a 50cm tube into his urethra, which was found folded in his bladder. Urologists successfully removed the foreign body via endoscopic basket extraction, diagnosing underlying depression.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Self-insertion of foreign bodies into the urethra is a rare but potentially dangerous practice.
- It can be associated with underlying psychological issues, including self-destructive behaviors.
Observation:
- A 54-year-old male presented with a 50 cm flexible plastic tube self-inserted into the urethra.
- Imaging revealed the tube was coiled within the bladder without visceral complications.
Findings:
- Urgent urethrocystoscopy successfully retrieved the foreign body using an endoscopic basket.
- Psychiatric evaluation diagnosed depression as a potential underlying factor.
Implications:
- Foreign body insertion into the urinary tract can indicate self-destructive behaviors requiring psychiatric assessment.
- Failure to recognize and treat these underlying issues may have legal ramifications for clinicians.
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