We should like to bring to your attention an interesting and unusual case of postoperative incontinence. Two days after laparotomy, while confused, a normally continent 86-year-old man traumatically pulled out his urinary catheter. The catheter was discarded at the time by the night nursing staff. Following this, the patient was completely and persistently incontinent to urine.
Two pelvic ultrasound scans showed a low residual volume, and spinal magnetic resonance imaging was normal. A flexible cystoscopy was performed identifying the cause – the distal 14 cm of the catheter bridging the bulbar urethra, acting as a stent. This was removed at cystoscopy resulting in a return to normal continence.
Due to the low friction nature of the silicone catheter, it was surprising that the catheter section remained in situ over the bulbar urethra. Has anyone else seen a similar case as none of the surgical team involved had come across this scenario before?