Pneumaturia is the passage of gas or "air" in urine. This may be seen or described as "bubbles in the urine".
Causes
A common cause of pneumaturia is colovesical fistula (communication between the colon and bladder). These may occur as a complication of diverticular disease. Pneumaturia can also happen if a urinary catheter was recently in the bladder.
Other key differentials: Crohn's disease Carcinoma of the colon or bladder A gas-producing UTI (emphysematous cystitis: rare). Emphysematous pyelonephritis.
Male scuba divers utilizing condom catheters or female divers using a She-p external catching device for their dry suits are also susceptible to pneumaturia.
Diagnosis Diagnosis is made by patient history of passing air or a sputtering urine stream. CT scans may show air in the urinary bladder or bladder walls.
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