Ureteral rupture caused by a suprapubic catheter in a male patient with spinal cord injury: A case report

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) may lead to urinary system disturbances. Patients with SCI usually have neurogenic bladder, and treatment optionss for this condition include clean intermittent catheterization and a permanent indwelling urethral or suprapubic catheter. Complications of catheterization include urinary tract infection, calculi, urinary tract injury, bladder contraction, bladder spasm, renal dysfunction, bladder cancer, and so forth. To the best of our knowledge, ureteral rupture is an unusual complication of catheterization, and ureteral rupture has been rarely reported in SCI patients. Therefore, here we report a case of ureteral rupture caused by a suprapubic catheter used for the treatment of neurogenic bladder with vesicoureteral reflux in a male patient with SCI. Due to SCI with neurogenic bladder, ureteral size can be reduced and the suprapubic catheter tip can easily migrate to the distal ureteral orifice. Thus, careful attention is required when a catheter is inserted into the bladder in patients with SCI.