INFANTILE BLADDER RUPTURE DURING VOIDING CYSTOURETHROGRAPHY
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ABDOL M. KAJBAFZADEH, PARISA SAEEDI, ALI R. SINA, SEYEDMEHDI PAYABVASH, AMIRALI H. SALMASI

Pediatric Urology Research Center, Department of Urology, Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

ABSTRACT

     Bladder rupture is rare during infancy and most of reported cases had urethral obstruction or neurogenic bladder. We report two cases of infantile bladder rupture during voiding cystourethrography (VCUG). This report reinforces the criteria for proper VCUG imaging procedure. Consideration of expected bladder volume for body weight, and close monitoring of bladder pressure and injection speed could prevent such complications.

Key words: bladder; children; diagnostic imaging; rupture; iatrogenic
Int Braz J Urol. 2007; 33: 532-5

INTRODUCTION

     Voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) is widely applied for the radiological evaluation of the bladder and urethra in children. Bladder rupture during VCUG is exceedingly rare (1). We present two infants with iatrogenic bladder rupture during VCUG performed by radiology staffs in two district hospitals. These infants were referred to our center for further management.

CASE REPORTS

     Case #1 - A 10-day-old boy, weighing 3.2 kg, was referred to nephrologists with history of prenatal hydronephrosis. On day 7 after birth, ultrasonographic exam confirmed bilateral hydroureteronephrosis, which was severe on the left side and mild on the right side. VCUG was requested to evaluate a possible vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). A 6F feeding tube was inserted into the urethra and contrast media was injected using a 50-mL syringe, under fluoroscopic guide. During the first filling cycle, severe left side VUR appeared following injection of 15 mL of contrast media (Figure-1) and the right VUR appeared in volume of 35 mL. However, the radiographer continued the instillation until the intraperitoneal bladder rupture occurred in volume of 60 mL (Figure-1). The baby was referred to urologist and immediately underwent abdominal exploration through a Pfannenstiel incision. The bladder dome was the site of a 2 cm long rupture. The peritoneal cavity was washed with saline and the bladder was closed in two layers using 4-0 polyglactin suture. A Malecot catheter was inserted in the bladder as suprapubic tube. A mini-vacuum closed drain was left in the perivesical space. The post-operative course was complicated by prolonged urine leakage from the site of suprapubic catheter extracted on the 14^th postoperative day. The child was referred to our institution for further management. A 6F Foley urethral catheter was inserted. After 7 days, the leakage was stopped and the catheter was removed on the 24^th postoperative day. The patient was discharged 3 days later with good condition and prescription of prophylactic antibiotic (Figure-1).





     Case #2 - A 9-month old female infant, weighing 7 kg, was referred to a radiologist for VCUG at a district hospital from a different province. Medical problems included urinary tract infection and failure to thrive. Contrast media was injected through an 8F urethral feeding tube under fluoroscopic guide. The radiographer instilled 100 mL of contrast media using a 50-mL syringe, during the first filling cycle. Speed of injection, bladder pressure and volume were not recorded. While reviewing the images, the radiologist discovered bladder perforation. She was taken to the operating room and underwent abdominal exploration. The bladder was exploded at dome with a 3 cm length. The site of perforation was closed in two layers using absorbable 4-0 polygalactin suture. A small Penrose drain was left in perivesical space and a 10F catheter was left per urethra. Post-operative course of the patient was uneventful and she was discharged one week later and referred to our clinic for further evaluation. Follow-up VCUG showed no leakage or reflux.

COMMENTS

     Infantile bladder rupture is rare (2) and only 17 cases have been reported between 1956 and 1985 (3). The main predisposing factors include posterior urethral valves and neurogenic bladder followed by bladder outlet obstruction from other etiologies and trauma (3). Few cases of iatrogenic bladder perforation have been reported in children following diagnostic and therapeutic procedures (3,4). To our knowledge this is the second report of infantile bladder rupture during VCUG (2).
     There was none of the above-mentioned risk factors in our cases; however, inaccurate imaging procedure seems to be the main cause of perforation. In order to perform a safe and perfect VCUG, radiologists must pay attention to some factors such as bladder volume, style of contrast media instillation and patient conditions (underlying urinary disease) (1). Two formulae have been proposed for bladder volume estimation in children with regards to their weight and age (4,5); age < 2 years - bladder volume (mL) = weight (kg) × 7, age > 2 years - bladder volume (mL) = [age (years) + 2] × 30.
     Proper catheter insertion, fluoroscopic guide, pressure and number of filling cycle should be considered in styles of instillation (1). To avoid pressure overload, hand injection of contrast material must not be used and the contrast container should not be placed higher than 60 cm from the patient. More than two cycles of filling does not appear to be necessary (1,6). The underlying urinary system disease is another important factor. In our cases, the bladder volume and pressure were not considered and the contrast media was instilled directly by syringe.
     Management of infantile bladder rupture should be individualized. In the review by Trulock et al. (3), the majority of reported neonates were treated with abdominal exploration and repair of the bladder leakage site; however some of the patients would be managed by the use of vesicostomy or urethral catheter alone.
     In conclusion, during VCUG, it is important to consider the patient underlying disorder and expected bladder volume for age as well as to avoid hand injection of contrast material and placing the contrast container more than 60 cm higher than the patient. Moreover, in order to prevent high-pressure voiding in premature infants, it has been recommended to use small caliber and balloon-less feeding catheters that would not occlude the bladder neck during voiding.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

     None declared.

REFERENCES

1. Agrawalla S, Pearce R, Goodman TR: How to perform the perfect voiding cystourethrogram. Pediatr Radiol. 2004; 34: 114-9.
2. Wosnitzer M, Shusterman D, Barone JG: Bladder rupture in premature infant during voiding cystourethrography. Urology. 2005; 66: 432.
3. Trulock TS, Finnerty DP, Woodard JR: Neonatal bladder rupture: case report and review of literature. J Urol. 1985; 133: 271-3.
4. O’Brien WJ, Ryckman FC: Catheter-induced urinary bladder rupture presenting with pneumoperitoneum. J Pediatr Surg. 1994; 29: 1397-8.
5. Koff SA: Estimating bladder capacity in children. Urology. 1983; 21: 248-52.
6. Jequier S, Jequier JC: Reliability of voiding cystourethrography to detect reflux. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1989; 153: 807-10.

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Accepted after revision:
April 27, 2007

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Correspondence address:
Dr. A.M. Kajbafzadeh
No. 36, 2nd Floor, 7th Street
Saadat-Abad, Ave. Tehran 19987, Iran
Fax: + 98 21 2206-9451
E-mail: kajbafzd@sina.tums.ac.ir