Spontaneous Intra-Peritoneal Urinary Bladder Rupture Complicating Benign Prostate Hyperplasia: Case Report

Abstract

A case of a rare atraumatic spontaneous rupture of the urinary bladder in a 62-year-old man with benign prostate hyperplasia who presented with anuria, abdominal pain and abdominal distension is reported. He had declined prostatectomy for two and a half years on financial ground. In addition to the presenting history, the presence of free intraperitoneal fluid and abdominal rigidity heightened the clinical suspicion of the diagnosis. This was confirmed by the laboratory demonstration of uroperitoneum and ultrasonographic demonstration of rent in the urinary bladder wall. About 6 litres of urine, mixed with blood, was drained following a moderately difficult trans-urethral bladder catheterization. This led to the spontaneous disappearance of the abdominal distension and healing of the bladder rupture as confirmed by ultrasonography and cystography on the eighth day of presentation. He had urethro-cystoscopy and retropubic prostatectomy electively two months later and has remained well on follow up.