Urethral obstruction due to the passage of a retained projectile into the genitounrinary system

• Published in: The American journal of emergency medicine Vol. 26; no. 7; pp. 842.e1 - 842.e2
• Main Authors: Shiver, Stephen A., MD, Reynolds, Bradford Z., MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.09.2008; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Abdomen; Adult; Bladder; Emergency; Emergency medical care; Firearms; Foreign-Body Migration - diagnosis; Foreign-Body Migration - diagnostic imaging; Foreign-Body Migration - therapy; Hospitalization; Hospitals; Humans; Male; Migration; Radiography; Urethral Obstruction - diagnostic imaging; Urethral Obstruction - etiology; Urethral Obstruction - therapy; Urogenital system; Wounds, Gunshot - complications; Wounds, Gunshot - diagnostic imaging; Wounds, Gunshot - surgery
• ISSN: 0735-6757; 1532-8171
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2008.01.042

Urethral foreign bodies are relatively rare. When seen, they are usually the result of entry via the urethral meatus. Several reports in the literature have documented the passage of retained bullets into the genitourinary system. The vast majority of these were ultimately expelled spontaneously via the urethra. Very few cases of urethral obstruction and accompanying urinary retention due to bullet migration have been described. The presented case details distal urethral obstruction due to the migration of a retained firearm projectile presenting 1 month after initial gunshot wound. No such case exists in the emergency medicine literature.