Urethral discharge associated with ingested foreign body.

A 55-year-old man was admitted with a history of dysuria and pneumaturia for a few weeks. In 1938 he had had an arthrodesis of the right hip for tuberculosis and also an appendicectomy and repair of a left inguinal hernia. He was generally well at the time of presentation. Examination showed no gross abnormality other than mild hypertension (150/100 mm Hg) and a fixed hip. Culture of the urine produced a heavy growth of Escherichia coli; chest x-ray examination was normal; an intravenous pyelogram showed no gross abnormality of the kidneys, ureter, or bladder; a barium enema showed diverticular disease of the sigmoid colon with a fistula to the bladder. Laparotomy confirmed the diverticulosis and fistula. The sigmoid colon was resected and the fistula closed. No abnormality within the bladder was noted. The patient made a good recovery and was discharged home on the eighth postoperative day with normal micturition, bowel action, and a well-healed wound. The urine was sterile.