Urinary catheters are commonly used to address various urinary problems. However, the catheter itself can be a cause of several complications, including catheter-associated urinary tract infections, damage to the bladder and kidneys, and, in extremely rare cases, bladder perforation. We present a case of spontaneous bladder perforation in a patient who had a long-term indwelling intraurethral catheter. The patient with prior hypoxic brain damage suddenly developed tachypnea, tachycardia, and oxygen desaturation. Computed tomography and retrograde cystography revealed an extraperitoneal bladder perforation with an intra-pelvic abscess. Antibiotics were prescribed and a urinary catheter was inserted for drainage. After 11 weeks, the abscess resolved, and the catheter was removed to enable self-voiding. The perforation was attributed to chronic inflammation and distension of the bladder wall caused by the intraurethral catheter. Given the potential complications associated with long-term urinary catheterization, the timely removal of indwelling catheters should be considered.
Purpose: This study examined the epidemiological trends of bladder-related urological procedures in South Korea from 2009 to 2021. Materials and Methods: The data were obtained from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) database, encompassing various bladder-related urological procedures. The frequencies and trends were analyzed using statistical methods. Results: Uroflowmetry, cystoscopy, prostate biopsy, and urethral dilation showed a positive trend, while prostate massage exhibited a negative trend. The 72-hour voiding function test, which started in 2017, also demonstrated a positive trend in frequency. A urodynamic study and mid-urethral sling operation exhibited an overall decreasing trend. Bladder-indwelling catheter, Nelaton catheterization, and cystostomy catheter change showed increasing trends, while suprapubic cystostomy showed a decreasing trend. Conclusions: This 12-year analysis provided valuable insights into the epidemiological patterns and utilization of bladder-related urological procedures in South Korea. These trends highlight the evolving landscape of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in bladder-related conditions and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between urology and other medical departments. The results highlight the need for optimizing catheter-related care protocols, resource allocation, and continued monitoring of practices across healthcare settings.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Screening for Asymptomatic Bacteriuria Before Cystoscopy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Patrick G. Rice, Robyn S.E. Hawkins, Bhaskar K. Somani European Urology Focus.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Fournier’s gangrene is a life-threatening disease that needs to be treated as soon as possible. An 82-year-old male, who exchanged a urethral catheter once a month for urinary incontinence management after open radical prostatectomy, presented with an acute onset of mental change and general weakness. After ten days’ hospitalization, the disease was diagnosed. The scrotal wall was opened, and the infectious tissue was exposed to the air and kept open with an aseptic dressing. After 45 days, his scrotal wound healed and returned to its typical appearance without scarring and wound disruption. He recovered fully from the infection. This paper reports a case of Fournier’s gangrene in a patient with long-term indwelling catheterization due to urinary incontinence after an open radical prostatectomy with a literature review.