Evaluation of intravesical alum irrigation for massive bladder hemorrhage

The efficacy of intravesical alum irrigation was analyzed after application to 9 patients with continuous and severe bladder hemorrhage. Causes of bleeding were radiation cystitis in 4 patients, vesical invasion by cervical cancer in 3, bladder cancer in 1 and cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis in 1. Though alum treatment was initially effective for control of massive bladder hemorrhage in all patients, it eventually failed to suppress a subsequent hemorrhage in 2 patients (78% success rate). No significant side effects directly related to this therapy were observed. In conclusion, alum irrigation is effective for controlling massive bladder hemorrhage for a rather short time. Therefore, additional treatment modalities should also be considered for primary diseases.