Vesical Calculus Around Neglected Foley’s Catheter: Case Report

Abstract

Background: Long term bladder catheterization is complicated by bacteriuria, encrustation by mineral salts, stone formation etc. In the presence of an indwelling catheter, the development of bacteriuria is inevitable and the colonization of the catheter withurease producing organisms alkalinizes the urine, promoting the precipitation of calcium phosphate salts and a biofilm of bacteria on the surface of the catheter. Aseptic techniques at catheter insertion and prompt treatment of urinary tract infections will thereforeminimize the occurrence of intravesical calculi formation. A review of literature suggests that the longest reported case of retained bladder catheter with intravesical calculus formation is two years. We report two cases of long term indwelling catheter, five yearsand two years respectively, with intravesical calculus formation around the catheter.Case Report: Case 1. A 44 year old man with urethral strictures retained a latex suprapubic Foley’s catheter for five years and reported with pericatheter leakage of urine A stone found to have formed around the catheter was removed at open suprapubic cystolithotomy. Case 2. A 61year old man retained his urethral cathetern assed for urine retention for two years. He presented in acute retention and a vesical calculus found to be around the catheter was removed at suprapubic cystolithothomy.Conclusion: Long term indwelling catheter usually gets complicated by urethral encrustation and stone formation. Aseptic techniques at urethral catheterization and proper patient education on regular catheter change are required to minimize stone formation around urethral catheter.