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[Subacute intestinal obstruction due to bladder distension]
L Ghebontni1, J el-Khoury, E Nguyen-Khaç
1Service de Radiologie Centrale, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris.
Journal De Radiologie
|October 29, 1998
Summary
A chronically distended bladder can cause subacute bowel obstruction by compressing the rectosigmoid junction. This rare complication was observed in an elderly male with diabetes and prostatic adenoma.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Urology
- Radiology
Background:
- Elderly male patients with diabetes mellitus and prostatic adenoma are at risk for urinary retention.
- Chronic bladder distension can lead to extrinsic compression of adjacent pelvic organs.
Observation:
- A 91-year-old male presented with symptoms of subacute bowel obstruction.
- The obstruction was caused by extrinsic compression of the rectosigmoid junction.
- The compressing mass was identified as a chronically distended urinary bladder.
Findings:
- Radiographic, water-soluble contrast enema, and pelvic CT scans demonstrated the rectosigmoid compression.
- The findings confirmed the bladder as the causative agent of the bowel obstruction.
Implications:
- This case highlights a rare but significant cause of bowel obstruction in elderly men.
- Recognition of this entity is crucial for appropriate diagnosis and management, potentially avoiding surgical intervention.
- Highlights the importance of considering bladder distension in the differential diagnosis of bowel obstruction.