Bladder injury with vesicocutaneous fistula following acupuncture: a case report
- Author:
In Hwan YEO
1
;
Dong Eun LEE
;
Changho KIM
;
Yun Jeong KIM
;
Jun Seok SEO
Author Information
1. Department of Emergency Medicine, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
- Publication Type:Case Report
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
2021;32(5):471-475
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Acupuncture is globally practiced extensively, especially in Northeast Asian countries. We present a case of bladder injury with vesicocutaneous fistula (VCF) subsequent to acupuncture treatment on the lower abdomen. We believe that no similar case has been reported in previous literature. A 54-year-old woman was admitted to our emergency department, complaining of lower abdominal pain with erythema, after undergoing acupuncture. Physical examination revealed swelling with erythema and slight pus-like discharges in the lower abdomen, with accompanying tenderness over the area of the swelling. An abdominal computed tomography showed evidence of bladder injury with VCF and abscess. Considering the underlying disease and the risk of surgical treatment, the patient was successfully treated with percutaneous abscess drainage and an indwelling urinary catheter. Considering the outcome of this case, we recommend that practitioners need to perform acupuncture treatment with sufficient anatomical knowledge and proper technique, to reduce the possibility of subsequent complications.
