Pneumaturia


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. 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:
Male scuba divers utilizing External [urine collection devices#Texas catheter|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.