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An Unexpected Foreign Body (a Thermometer) in the Bladder: A Case Report
M Dardamanis1, L Balta1, V Zacharopoulos1
1Department of Nephrology, General Hospital of Preveza, Preveza, Greece.
Urology Case Reports
|March 9, 2016
Summary
A rare case of a mercury thermometer lodged in the bladder caused severe kidney damage. Surgical removal resolved the obstructive uropathy, highlighting the need to consider foreign bodies in differential diagnoses.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Nephrology
- Radiology
Background:
- Foreign bodies in the bladder are uncommon due to access challenges.
- Associated factors include mental disorders, sexual perversion, or curiosity.
Observation:
- A 48-year-old woman with hearing and intellectual impairments presented with severe anemia and renal dysfunction.
- Imaging revealed a mercury thermometer in the bladder, encrusted with a 5 cm stone, causing bilateral ureteral obstruction.
Findings:
- The foreign body and calculus led to significant obstructive uropathy.
- Open cystotomy was performed for removal of the thermometer and stone.
Implications:
- Obstructive uropathy is a critical cause of kidney failure.
- Foreign bodies in the urinary tract must be considered in the differential diagnosis of renal impairment.
