Emphysematous cystitis: review of current literature, diagnosis and management challenges

Unusual case of emphysematous cystitis mimicking intestinal perforation: A case report

BACKGROUND

Emphysematous cystitis (EC) is a bladder condition commonly caused by gas-generating bacterial infections. Factors that increase the risk for developing this condition include female gender, age ≥ 60 years, and diabetes mellitus, glycosuria, and urinary stasis. The symptoms of EC often lack specificity, making diagnostic imaging techniques crucial for accurate identification of the condition.

CASE SUMMARY

This report presents an unusual case of EC that mimicked intestinal perforation. While it was initially challenging to differentiate between intestinal perforation and EC on admission, the patient managed to avoid unnecessary surgery and made a good recovery solely through antibiotic treatment.

CONCLUSION

Successful treatment of the patient described herein highlights the importance of accurately diagnosing EC, which can be difficult to differentiate from intestinal perforation.

"Beyond the Bladder: Exploring the Intricacies of Emphysematous Cystitis and Its Surprising Associations"

Emphysematous cystitis is defined by the presence of air within the bladder wall or lumen in imaging studies with increased incidence in elderly women and diabetics. It is a result of gas-forming organisms like Klebsiella and E. coli but can be caused by fungi such as Candida and Aspergillus as well with a wide spectrum of clinical presentations. In this article, we present a case of a 77-year-old female with diabetes mellitus who presented to the hospital with a chief complaint of left lower quadrant abdominal pain. Abdominal imaging revealed emphysematous cystitis, paraspinal abscess, and air in the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. Laboratory results showed leukocytosis, lactic acidosis, and urinalysis significant for urinary tract infection but no positive urine or blood cultures. The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit for septic shock and was treated with mechanical ventilation, vasopressor support, and prompt antimicrobial therapy following which the requirement of vasopressors ceased on the third day of admission. The decision was then made by the family to pursue hospice care, following which mechanical ventilation was discontinued and the patient transferred to inpatient hospice. With this case report, we aim to add to the existing literature regarding the spread of intra-abdominal infections and go over a brief review of the currently available literature. From our review, we would like to conclude that the presence of pneumoracchis, especially in the setting of an intra-abdominal infection, is a poor prognostic marker, and timely diagnosis and treatment of potential causes are required to reduce mortality.

Case report: Emphysematous cystitis due to Escherichia coli infection with the extension of gas into multiple locations in two non-diabetic dogs: a computed tomographic diagnosis and successful management

Emphysematous cystitis is an extremely rare, complicated urinary tract infection with the presence of gas in the bladder wall and lumen caused by gas-producing bacterial infections. A 7-year-old spayed female pomeranian dog was presented with a 3-day history of hematuria and pollakiuria (case 1), and a 9-year-old spayed female jindo dog was presented with a 4-day history of intermittent hematuria (case 2). Imaging modalities, including radiography, ultrasonography, and computed tomography, and bacterial culture tests were used for the diagnosis. Emphysematous cystitis due to Escherichia coli infection with the extension of gas into multiple locations was identified in both cases. Based on the results of antibiotic susceptibility testing, systemic antibiotics were initiated. Both animals had an excellent response to antibiotic treatment, and the clinical signs of the gas collection were completely resolved within ~1 month after treatment initiation. This response was sustained without recurrence in the follow-up period. This case report describes clinical details of extremely rare canine cases of emphysematous cystitis with the extension of gas into multiple locations and evaluates the clinical efficacy of antibiotic therapy.

Severe emphysematous cystitis complicated with perforation, bilateral renal cortical atrophy and sepsis: a case report

Emphysematous cystitis (EC) is a rare bladder infection characterized by the presence of gas in the wall or cavity of the bladder. Most patients with EC will present with the typical symptoms of cystitis (e.g. frequent micturition, urgent micturition and dysuria), but other signs include distension and pain in the lower abdomen, drum sounds on percussion and a large amount of gas in the bladder. There can also be other complications such as sepsis. However, it is usually characterized by the typical symptoms of infection combined with pneumatinuria, the passage of gas mixed with urine. The early stage of EC is mostly limited to the submucosa and the symptoms of infection can be mild. Some patients may have no obvious clinical symptoms. If the infection becomes severe, it may result in difficulty urinating and kidney dysfunction. Therefore, timely treatment of these rare bladder infections is essential. This current case report describes an 80-year-old female patient with severe EC complicated by significant bilateral ureteral dilatation, bilateral renal cortical atrophy and sepsis. The patient was successfully treated with antibiotics and surgery. This report provides clinical data, test results and treatment experience that might be useful for clinicians that are involved in the treatment of EC.