[Rare emergencies in urology]

The aim of this article was to cite rare but sometimes serious emergencies that may be encountered by any urologist during their practice, and to outline the main principles of their management.

A systematic review of the literature using PubMed, Embase and Google Scholar was carried out between January 2000 and June 2021. The articles obtained were selected according to their age and type. The original articles, meta-analyses, recommendations and the most recent journal articles published in French and English have been retained. A total of 312 articles were identified and 58 selected from their abstracts. The articles were then analysed exhaustively by the authors, and 24 references were finally selected.

Several rare emergencies of an infectious nature (xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis, emphysematous cystitis and pyelonephritis, malacoplasia, hydatiduria), ischemic nature (Fournier's gangrene, penile calciphylaxis), or hemorrhagic nature (hemospermia, hemorrhages of the upper urinary tract or adrenal gland spontaneous hematoma), or at the origin of painful manifestations (spermatic colic, venous thrombosis of the penis), can pose diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties, in the absence of consensus concerning their management.

These pathologies, rare but sometimes serious, must be recognized in order to not delay the treatment and to be able to reduce their morbidity and mortality. Combined with the constant improvement of our diagnostic and therapeutic arsenal, a better knowledge of these rare emergencies will help to preserve the functional and vital prognosis of patients.