Emphysematous cystitis in a patient presenting with paradoxical arterial embolism and intestinal mycobacteriosis without evidence of diabetes

Emphysematous cystitis in the absence of known risk factors: an unusual clinical entity

Emphysematous cystitis is a rare disorder that is usually associated with immunosuppression, poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, and other risk factors such as previous urinary tract infection and/or recent instrumentation of the urinary tract. The case of an 89-year-old woman with emphysematous cystitis who had no evidence of immunodeficiency or other risk factors except for advanced age is reported. A review of the literature on emphysematous cystitis in immunocompetent, nondiabetic individuals is presented.

Emphysematous cystitis: illustrative case report and review of the literature

Emphysematous cystitis is a rare disease characterized by primary infection of the urinary bladder with gas-producing pathogens. There is a paucity of information on this entity in the English-language literature covering the last 45 years, and the clinical picture is poorly outlined. We carried out a comprehensive, retrospective review of the English-language literature from 1986 to 2006, searching for reports describing cases of emphysematous cystitis. The demographic, clinical, laboratory, imaging, and outcome characteristics of every eligible patient were excerpted. In the present report, we describe a typical case of emphysematous cystitis, followed by an analysis of the literature. Of the 53 eligible cases, most were elderly women with diabetes mellitus (62.2%). Classic symptoms of urinary tract infection were present in only 53.3% of cases. Abdominal tenderness and hematuria were noted in 65.6% and 82.3% of cases, respectively. Plain abdominal X-ray was highly sensitive (97.4%), while abdominal computerized tomography was the most sensitive and specific diagnostic tool. A complicated course attributable to emphysematous cystitis was described in 18.8% of cases. The exact mechanism contributing to the formation of gas in such cases is unknown. Various theories have been suggested, including fermentation of glucose in urine, with emphasis on disequilibrium between gas formation and clearance. Emphysematous cystitis has a highly variable presentation and course, with a considerable potential for complications. Further diagnostic imaging is highly recommended in diabetic patients with urinary tract infection who present with abdominal pain and hematuria. Knowledge of this rare entity may lead to early diagnosis and appropriate management.

Emphysematous cystitis with venous bubbles

An 86-year-old nondiabetic woman with an episode of transient ischemic attack two days earlier was referred to our hospital. She had a history of neurogenic bladder and chronic atrial fibrillation and had been anuric for two days. Bubbles were detected by echocardiography in the right atrium, right ventricle, and inferior vena cava. Computed tomography revealed gas accumulation in the wall and lumen of the bladder. She recovered after urinary drainage and antibiotic therapy, and bubbles were no longer detected. It was suspected that bacterial injury of the bladder wall and high intravesical pressure led gas to enter the venous system.

Unusual gas pattern in emphysematous cystitis: a case report

We present a case of emphysematous cystitis in a 43-year-old female. The gas pattern was unusual because there was only gas accumulation in the urinary bladder without bladder wall thickening or intramural gas formation. The differential diagnosis included postoperative states, enterovesical fistula, and iatrogenic instrumentation. The prognosis of emphysematous cystitis is good after early diagnosis and prompt treatment with appropriate antibiotics, blood glucose control, and adequate urinary drainage. The patient was discharged on hospital day 5 with one additional week of oral antibiotic therapy. She was quite well at the time of writing and her diabetes was controlled with an oral hypoglycemic agent.

Atypical presentations of emphysematous cystitis

Emphysematous cystitis is an uncommon infection of the bladder with the formation of carbon dioxide either within the bladder or within its wall. It is commonly seen in women and those with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, in association with some form of urinary stasis and obstruction. The clinical features are very varied and the outcome is often unpredictable. Radiography may reveal a radiolucent line around the bladder wall or gas within the bladder. Occasionally, computed tomography scans are required to help in the diagnosis due to their atypical presentation with acute abdominal pain. Herein, we report three patients with such a condition who were treated with favourable outcomes. Of the three patients, two had to undergo exploratory laparotomy due to their initial presentations with acute abdomens.