Ureteral Obstruction Due to Inadvertent Placement of the Suprapubic Catheter and Bladder Indwelling Catheter: Presentation of Two Clinical Cases and Review of the Literature

authors:

avatar Victor Calderon Plazarte 1 , * , avatar Maxime Taghavi 2 , avatar Lucas Jacobs 3 , avatar Johanna Elisabeth Noels 1

Department of Urology, CHU Brugmann, Brussels, Belgium
Department of Nephrology, CHU Brugmann, Brussels, Belgium
Service of Nephrology, CHU Brugmann, Brussels, Belgium

how to cite: Calderon Plazarte V, Taghavi M, Jacobs L, Noels J E. Ureteral Obstruction Due to Inadvertent Placement of the Suprapubic Catheter and Bladder Indwelling Catheter: Presentation of Two Clinical Cases and Review of the Literature. Nephro-Urol Mon. 2022;14(4):e122856. https://doi.org/10.5812/numonthly-122856.

Abstract

Introduction:

Suprapubic catheter (SPC) and bladder indwelling catheter (BIC) placement are among the most common urological procedures. Inadvertent misplacement of the catheter tip into the ureteral orifice is an infrequent event with potentially critical complications.

Case Presentation:

We describe two cases of inadvertent intraureteral misplacement of an SPC and a BIC. A 66-year-old man with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage G3b, urethral stenosis, long-term SPC who attended the emergency room (ER) 6 hours after the last catheter replacement due to low back pain, fever, deterioration of the general condition, anuria, acute kidney injury (AKI); CT-scan revealed a left uretero-hydronephrosis secondary to obstruction of the catheter balloon misplaced inside the distal ureter. A 59-year-old woman with CKD stage G3b, post-radiotherapy cystitis, and small capacity bladder, long-term BIC who attended the ER a few hours after the last BIC replacement due to abdominal pain, anuria, AKI; CT-scan revealed left hydronephrosis secondary to catheter obstruction within the distal ureter. In both patients, management was conservative, consisting of removing the catheter and repositioning it inside the bladder, in addition to hydration and antibiotherapy.

Conclusions:

These cases illustrate that awareness of this rare complication can be prevented by confirming the correct positioning of SPC or BIC after its replacement. Early detection and management of this complication can prevent a serious clinical setting.

1. Introduction

The suprapubic catheter (SPC) and bladder indwelling catheter (BIC) are useful devices widely used in urological patients, and their iterative replacement is necessary for patients with pharmacologically intractable bladder emptying disorder. Urinary catheterization is associated with complications over the short (trauma, urosepsis, acute kidney injury (AKI)) and long term (urethral stricture), leading to a greater cost burden on medical departments (1-3). Unintentional intraureteral misplacement of SPCs and BICs is infrequent, with potentially life-threatening complications, such as ureteral trauma. Although it has been described mostly in patients with neurogenic bladder, its mechanism remains unclear. This paper aims to describe two rare cases of unintentional ureteral obstruction after routine replacement of an SPC and BIC that occurred in our institution, review the literature, explain possible factors favoring this occurrence and suggest measures to manage and prevent it.

2. Case Presentation

Patient 1: 66-year-old man with medical and surgical antecedents of chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 3b of multifactorial origin, right renal atrophy, transurethral resection of the prostate, multi-operated bulbar urethral stricture, recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI), and carrier of an SPC with iterative changes. Six hours after the last 12Fr siliconized SPC replacement, he attended the emergency room (ER) with deterioration of the general condition, lumbar pain, anuria, and fever of 39°C. He was tachycardic (heart rate of 120 beats/min), with no hypotension or respiratory alterations (detailed laboratory findings in Table 1). Blood tests showed an elevated leukocyte count of 21.34 × 103 cells/µL, elevated c-reactive protein (CRP) of 194.9 mg/L, GFR according to CKD-EPI was 4 mL/min/1.73 m2, with creatinine of 13.7 mg/dL, and urea of 294 mg/dL, hyperkalemia of 6.6 mmol/L; metabolic acidosis. Urine culture was positive for E. coli and P. aeruginosa (Figure 1). CT scan revealed a left uretero-hydronephrosis secondary to obstruction by the inflated SPC balloon in the distal ureter 4 cm from the vesicoureteral junction (VUJ). He was admitted for urosepsis and AKI. The catheter's balloon was deflated, and the catheter was carefully removed and repositioned into the bladder with 5 mL of sterile water in the balloon; the correct position was confirmed with ultrasound; he was hospitalized, and antibiotic treatment was started. Decreased hydronephrosis was confirmed three days later with renal ultrasound. The patient was discharged on the fifth day of hospitalization with clinical and analytical improvement.

Table 1.

Details of Laboratory Findings in Patients 1 and 2. Baseline Values, at the Time of Admission and at the Time of Discharge

VariablesReference RangesPatient 1Patient 2
Baseline ValuesAdmissionDischargeBaseline ValuesAdmissionDischarge
GFR CKD-EPI > 60 mL/min/1.73 m218419126.98
Creatinine0.7 - 1.3 mg/dL3.2313.73.283.766.135.28
Leucocyte3.5 - 11.00 × 103 cells/µL21.344.748.277.43
CRP< 10 mg/L194.93.689.96.3
Urea17 - 48 mg/dL482945392134123
Potassium 3.4 - 4.5 mmol/L6.64.34.94.1
Bicarbonate22 - 28 mmol/L10201818
pH7.35 - 7.457.47.47.47.39
Lactate < 2 mmol/L3.52
Patient 1: Large arrows indicate the suprapubic catheter into the left distal ureter up to 4 cm from the VUJ; a small arrow indicates the left hydroureter. Patient 2: Large arrows indicate the bladder catheter within the intramural tract of the left distal ureter. Small arrows indicate left hydronephrosis.
Patient 1: Large arrows indicate the suprapubic catheter into the left distal ureter up to 4 cm from the VUJ; a small arrow indicates the left hydroureter. Patient 2: Large arrows indicate the bladder catheter within the intramural tract of the left distal ureter. Small arrows indicate left hydronephrosis.

Patient 2: 59-year-old woman with medical and surgical antecedents of CKD stage 3b of multifactorial origin, low anterior resection, and radio-chemotherapy for rectal adenocarcinoma, bowel perforation, permanent discharge colostomy, micro-bladder (maximum capacity 50 cc), severe urinary incontinence, recurrent UTI and permanent 16Fr siliconized BIC. She attended the ER 24 hours after the last BIC replacement for hypogastric pain radiating to the left lumbar fossa, nausea, hematuria, oliguria, and peri-catheter urine leakage. Normal vital parameters. Blood tests showed a normal amount of leukocytes, CRP 89.8 mg/L, creatinine 6.13 mg/dL, CKD-EPI 6.9 mL/min/1.73 m2, and hyperkalemia 4.9 mmol/L. Urine culture was positive for P. aeruginosa (Figure 1). CT scan revealed a left uretero-hydronephrosis secondary to obstruction by the inflated SPC balloon in the intramural tract of the ipsilateral ureter. The balloon was deflated, and the catheter was carefully removed and replaced; the intravesical position was confirmed by ultrasound. She was admitted for AKI and UTI. Decreased hydronephrosis was confirmed three days later with renal ultrasound, renal function improved, hematuria was self-limited, and she was discharged with oral antibiotics.

3. Discussion

The most frequent injuries associated with BIC are urethral trauma and retention of the catheter's balloon within the urethra (4); placement of an SPC is technically more complex with a risk of abdominal organ injury and mortality risk of up to 2,4% (5). Other complications include hematuria, spasms, stone formation, obstructions, catheter leakage, and a tendency to dislocate, especially in cognitively impaired persons (1).

Inadvertent placement of BIC and SPC within the ureter is a rare event, with only 27 and 8 cases reported respectively so far, of which 12 right and 15 left for BIC and three right and 5 left for SPC (Table 2). There is no significant difference in terms of laterality, inadvertent placement of BIC has a female predominance of 3.5:1, while in the case of PCS it is more frequent in men at 7:1. Of the 35 patients reported, 28 (80%) underwent iterative catheter changes, mostly due to neurogenic bladder (17 cases). Although in less than half of the cases (6), there were no reported consequences, the most frequent ones were pyelonephritis (8 cases) and ureteral rupture (6 cases).

Table 2.

Patient Characteristics in the Literature

AuthorGendreLinked ConditionCatheterSideClinical PresentationClinical DebutConsequenceManagement
Borrero et al. (7)MaleNBSPCLeftFever, painNCCC
Singh and Eardley (8)FemaleNBBICRight
Kato (9)FemaleSIn, bilateral VURIDCLeftNo urine came out during aspirationImmediateCC
Ogan and Berger (10)FemaleBICRightPainURSR
Muneer et al. (11)MaleFibrotic bladderBICRightPainNCEndo. incision
Hara et al. (12)FemaleDuring laparotomyBICLeftPain4 hNCDJ
George and Tharion (13)MaleNBBICRightPain, leakage around the catheter1 dNCCC
Maegele et al. (14)FemaleBICLeftPain, fever, vomitPyelonephritisCC
Kim and Park (15)FemaleNBBICRightPainURPCN (DJ failed)
Dangle et al. (16)FemaleAfter pyeloplastySPCLeftPain, oliguria14PyelonephritisCC
Papacharalabous et al. (17)FemaleDuring laparotomyBICLeftIntraoperativeURSR
Hale et al. (18)FemaleBICLeftPainURSR
Adeyemo et al. (19)MaleNBSPCRightPain, oliguria60PyelonephritisCC
Baker et al. (20)FemaleNBBICLeftOliguriaFew hoursURPCN
Anderson and Greenlund (21)FemaleNBBICRightPain, haematuria1 dARCC
Anderson and Greenlund (21)ManNBBICLeftPain, haematuria1 dNCCC
Ishikawa et al. (22)FemaleNBBICLeftLeakage around the catheter, pain2 dNCCC
Ishikawa et al. (22)FemaleNBBICLeftFever18 dPyelonephritisCC
Ishikawa et al. (22)MaleNBBICLeftFever3 dPyelonephritisCC
Viswanatha et al. (23)FemaleDuplex ureterBICRightPain, unable to deflate the balloonDuring cesareanNCURS
Modi et al. (24)FemaleNBBICRightURPCN (DJ failed)
Crawford et al. (25)FemaleInterstitial cistitisBICRightPain, unable to remove the catheterSame dayNCPTCB, DJ
Yune et al. (26)FemaleEctopic uréterBICLeftOliguria post-cesarean section
Luo et al. (27)MaleNBBICRightFever, Pain2 dPyelonephritisCC
Luo et al. (27)FemalePost radiotherapyBICRightNCCC
Luo et al. (27)FemaleUR, psychiatric drugsBICLeftNCCC
Agarwal et al. (28)MaleNBSPCLeftHaematuria, pain, fever, incontinence12PyelonephritisCC
Persaud et al. (29)MaleUrethral strictureSPCRightFlank pain30NCCR
Agarwal et al. (28)FemaleNBBICLeftHaematuria, pain, unable to deflate the balloon1 dNCPPCB
Locherbach et al. (30)FemaleNephrolithiasisBICLeftDuring URSNCCR
Cho et al. (6)MaleNo antecedentsBICRightOliguria, unable to remove the catheterImmediateNCCC
Mekayten and Duvdevani (31)MaleNBSPCLeftNausea, pain, oliguria10NCCC
Saad and Zhong (32)MaleNBSPCRightPain, haematuria2NCCR
VC et al. (2022)MaleUrethral strictureSPCLeftPain, fever, anuria1PyelonephritisCR
VC et al. (2022)FemalePost radiotherapyBICLeftPain, nausea, haematuria, oliguria1 dLower UTICC

Long-term urinary catheter users often have multiple medical, surgical, and even radiotherapeutic background, following damage to the detrusor muscle's structure, and consequent bladder alteration emptying, recurrent UTI, and high prevalence of renal scarring, caliectasis, and CKD (33). These antecedents associated with the permanent presence of a catheter increase the risk of suffering urosepsis (34).

Possible reasons for inadvertent ureteral catheterization have been described (22, 27, 30):

- In patients with long-term catheterization, the bladder tends to contract and decrease its capacity (alteration of the anatomical relationship between the bladder neck and ureteral orifices).

- Each change of catheter increases the chances of ectopic catheterization, especially if the bladder is empty.

- In patients with neurogenic bladder, there may be ureteral reflux with patulous ureteral orifices, which may facilitate catheter entry into the ureteral meatus.

In addition, in women, the absence of the median prostatic lobe could justify the higher proportion of patients with BIC misplacement than in men; this is deduced by the almost absence of reported cases of SPC misplacement in women. These conditions may explain the intraureteral entry of BIC or SPC during their placement or the spontaneous intraureteral migration of the catheter, which can occur on more than one occasion in the same patient (19, 27); six reported cases attended the ER between 10 and 60 days after the last catheter replacement. However, this event can also occur in patients with unknown neurological or urological pathology, and two incidental findings have been reported during laparotomy and two cases in the perioperative period of cesarean section (6, 12, 16, 17, 23, 26, 30). The most frequent clinical presentation was a pain in 65% of cases, although this may be absent, especially in patients with upper motor neuron disease due to impaired pain perception. A diagnostic confirmation has been in almost all cases radiological with ultrasound or CT-scan, although MRI has been described to visualize the balloon and tip of the catheter, hydroureteronephrosis, and in case of ureter rupture a urinoma and extravasation of contrast in the damaged area (20). In most cases, management has been conservative by catheter repositioning into the bladder and confirming fluid leakage. If a deflation of the balloon is not possible, a percutaneous attempt can be made; an endoscopic incision of the ureteral orifice has also been described (11). In case of ureteral injury, management might require DJ stent placement or surgical repair (10, 17, 18).

Our two patients suffered from CKD, recurrent UTI, and iterative catheter changes, both attended to the ER for pain, and oliguria within the first 24 hours after catheter replacement, patient one, who had a single functional kidney, had rapid deterioration of the general condition, patient 2 presented peri-catheter urine leakage. At the ER, AKI and UTI were found, CT scan revealed ureterohydronephrosis secondary to obstruction by the inflated catheter balloon in the distal ureter. In both cases, management consisted of deflating the balloon, carefully removing the catheter, and replacement; positioning was confirmed with saline flushing and ultrasound; hydration, antibiotic treatment, and control with ultrasound three days later, with clinical improvement of renal function and decrease of hydronephrosis. Three weeks later, an ultrasound confirmed both patients' complete resolution of hydronephrosis.

Use short-tipped catheters whenever possible. If urine does not drain spontaneously after catheter insertion, catheter irrigation should be performed before balloon inflation. Observe carefully if balloon inflation is accompanied by pain, although this may be absent in patients with sensory disorders. At the end of the procedure, gently pull out the catheter (22). In case of an SPC, it’s recommended, before deflating the balloon of the old catheter, gently pull the catheter completely and mark the catheter at the point where it enters the skin; this length will serve as a reference to confirm the depth of the new CSP or replace the CSP over a guidewire (19).

This review if the literature emphasize the importance of confirming the intravesical position of CSP and BIC after every replacement, inadvertent ureteral catheterization has the potential to provoke a serious clinical situation, although it is extremely uncommon. Medical staff should be aware of this possibility in order to be able to handle it quickly and efficiently.

References