A rare cause of acute lower abdominal pain: Emphysematous cystitis

Emphysematous cystitis is a relatively rare infection characterized by the accumulation of air within the urinary bladder wall and bladder lumen. Diabetes mellitus and neurogenic bladder are the major risk factors of emphysematous cystitis. The clinical presentation varies from asymptomatic to fatal disease state. Computed tomography is the best diagnostic imaging modality. Here, we present a case of an 81-year-old woman with poorly controlled type II diabetes mellitus who had acute lower abdominal pain after a percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty which demonstrated emphysematous cystitis caused by Escherichia coli that resolved with antibiotic treatment.