Spontaneous bladder rupture owing to atherosclerotic emboli: a case report

We report a case of spontaneous intraperitoneal rupture of the bladder in an elderly man with severe atherosclerotic vascular disease who had widespread systemic evidence of an arterial embolic phenomenon after elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Atherosclerotic plaques were identified in the vesical arteries and were believed to be the primary event responsible for spontaneous vesical perforation. The clinical presentation, diagnosis and principles of management of vesical rupture are discussed.