What Researchers Did
Researchers reported on a 71-year-old woman who developed a spontaneous bladder rupture 10 years after receiving pelvic radiation for uterine cancer.
What They Found
The 71-year-old Asian woman presented with lower abdominal pain and vomiting, and tests showed acute renal failure and fluid in her abdomen. The presence of mesothelial cells in her urine helped doctors diagnose an intraperitoneal bladder rupture. She underwent surgical repair and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and was discharged once her kidney function returned to normal.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This case highlights that spontaneous bladder rupture can be a rare, late complication of pelvic radiation therapy, even a decade after treatment. The discovery of mesothelial cells in urine offered a simple method to diagnose this serious condition. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was included in the successful treatment plan for this patient.
Canadian Relevance
This study covers delayed radiation injury, which is a Health Canada-recognized indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Study Limitations
As a case report, this study describes the experience of only one patient, so its findings cannot be applied to all individuals.