A FOUR-YEAR FORGOTTEN URINARY CATHETER IN A SEXUALLY ACTIVE YOUNG MALE AND ITS MANAGEMENT: A CASE REPORT

Abstract

The urinary catheters’ mean indwelled duration after PIUR (primary interventional urethral realignment) is 25 days. Only four cases of forgotten urinary catheter were reported in the literature. The objective of this clinical case report is to highlight the unusual finding of a four-years forgotten urinary catheter in a young sexually active 23-year-old man and its management, aspiring future similar endeavors. A 23-year-old man presented to the hospital exhibiting severe supra-pubic pain and inability to urinate for one day. He described undergoing PIUR for a traumatic urethral rupture four years ago. An indwelling urinary catheter was placed subsequently, that he claims being removed by his physician 21 days later. Urinary hesitancy and frequency were reported since then, maintaining normal sexual activity. Based on having a tender vesicular globe, and a disclosed rod inside his penis, he was diagnosed with urinary retention by a foreign body and admitted to the hospital for further investigations. Vesicular decompression by a supra-pubic catheter was performed. A non-contrast pelvic CT scan revealed a calcified elongated structure suspecting an encrusted retained urinary catheter. In the operating room, rigid ureteroscope with the assistance of lithotripsy were proficient in fragmenting only intra-urethral calcifications. Sequentially, an open cystolithotomy evacuated the remaining calcified vesicular balloon. Patient was asymptomatic on subsequent visits denying any urinary symptoms and stating normal sexual activity. Removing such a foreign body, especially when severely encrusted as well as avoiding trauma to the urethra while minimizing patient morbidity remain a clinical confront for the surgeon. Hence, minimally invasive procedures are always preferred. In this case, we had to assist the rigid ureteroscope and the lithotripsy by an open cystolithotomy for the large calcified balloon. Nevertheless, this method has proved to be safe and efficient. Thus, it is suggested to be used in future comparable cases.