The stomach in malnutrition

Suprapubic bladder aspiration (SBA) has proved to be a useful and safe method in avoiding contamination when urine samples are taken from children. The following complications have been reported: suprapubic haematoma (Nelson and Peters, 1965), haematuria (Lanier and Daeschner, 1971), and suprapubic abscess (Polnay et al., 1975). A 4i-month-old boy developed a suprapubic abscess after an unsuccessful SBA. E. coli was cultured from the abscess and was also found in the urine sample taken by catheterization immediately after the SBA. The abscess was treated by incision and antibiotics, and was cured without further complications. The origin of this bacterium in the abscess was probably the infected urine which was withdrawn from the bladder by SBA. Palpation of the bladder before SBA therefore does not eliminate the possibility of suprapubic abscess formation as suggested by Gellis (1976). We think that suprapubic abscess can even develop after successful SBA. Particularly careful follow-up should be given to patients with unsuccessful SBA. MATTI UHARI, MIKKO REMES, and AKI MUSTONEN Department of Paediatrics, University of Oulu, 90220 Oulu 22, Finland.