Self-insertion Of Foreign Bodies Research Articles

VESICAL CALCULUS CAUSED BY VASCULAR PROSTHETIC GRAFT

Foreign bodies in the urinary tract are known to provide a nidus for stone formation. Stones in the bladder have been reported around catheter balloons, nonabsorbable sutures, surgical staples and a whole range of self-inserted foreign bodies.1 Crossover prosthetic vascular grafts used for unilateral iliac artery disease can be passed superficially through a subcutaneous tunnel or retropubically. However, the latter pose a risk of bladder injury.2

Fogarty Catheter Extraction of Unusual Urethral Foreign Bodies

Purpose The removal of multiple obstructing foreign bodies from the urethra of an acutely ill, elderly man is described. Materials and Methods A 4F Fogarty catheter under fluoroscopic guidance was used to manipulate, with slow traction, several calcified foreign bodies from the bulbar urethra to the meatus for extraction. Results The urethra was cleared rapidly, allowing drainage of retained, infected urine via a Foley catheter. Inspection of the objects revealed incrusted, friable masses consistent with nut shells. Conclusions Some obstructive urethral foreign bodies can be expediently removed in the emergency setting with a fluoroscope and a Fogarty catheter in a well lubricated urethra. Self-insertion of foreign bodies into the urethra usually accompanies a psychiatric co-diagnosis, which should also be evaluated.

Survey Results Analyzed

Subcutaneous penile insertion of foreign bodies is a practice performed globally but has mostly been reported outside of the United States. An incarcerated 29-year-old Caucasian male in a midwestern prison whittled a domino into a dog bone shape and placed it into his ventral penile subcutaneous tissue. He presented to our facility with erosion of the corners of the foreign body through his skin without evidence of infection. Self-insertion of foreign bodies into penile subcutaneous tissue by incarcerated American men for sexual enhancement is more widespread than previously reported. Erosion is a novel presentation.