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Extravasation from the unused bladder during cystography: case report
Paraplegia
|November 1, 1986
Summary
Spontaneous bladder extravasation can occur in patients with chronic Foley catheter use. This asymptomatic event is self-limiting and requires only observation, especially in spinal cord injury patients.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Nephrology
- Radiology
Background:
- Chronic Foley catheter drainage is common in patients with neurogenic bladder, such as those with spinal cord injuries.
- Retrograde cystography is a diagnostic procedure used to evaluate bladder integrity and function.
Observation:
- A spontaneous, asymptomatic bladder extravasation was observed during retrograde cystography in a quadriplegic patient with a 7-year history of continuous Foley catheter drainage.
- This phenomenon has also been noted in anuric patients undergoing pre-renal transplant evaluation.
Findings:
- The observed extravasation was asymptomatic and self-limiting.
- The likely cause is chronic disuse and altered bladder wall status due to long-term catheterization.
Implications:
- In the absence of clinical symptoms, observation is the recommended management for such spontaneous extravasations.
- This finding highlights the importance of considering bladder wall changes in patients with prolonged urinary catheterization.
- Further research may be warranted to fully understand the pathophysiology and long-term consequences of chronic bladder disuse.