Infectious peritonitis complicating suprapubic catheter removal

Peritonitis following suprapubic catheter placement may result from inadvertent placement of the drain through the large and small bowel and bladder base. The author describes a case of infectious peritonitis which developed after suprapubic catheter removal. The patient, underwent suprapubic catheter placement after Burch Colposuspension for genuine stress incontinence. The catheter was removed with a full bladder after an uneventful postoperative course, but the patient subsequently developed acute infectious peritonitis due to extravasated urine from the cystostomy site. It was concluded that suprapubic catheters should be removed after the bladder is emptied, to prevent this complication. This may be most important in patients who void without residual prior to epithelialization of the cystostomy site.Editorial Comment: This paper illustrates another complication of suprapubic catheter use. In this case peritonitis developed secondary to infected urine entering the peritoneal cavity after removal of the catheter when the bladder was full. The peritoneum had not been closed at the time of the original Burch procedure. The authors make the point of planning removal when the bladder is empty. Another consideration would be to close the peritoneum when a suprapubic catheter is used.