“Bubbles in My Urine” – A Presentation After Blunt Trauma

Fistulae forming between the alimentary tract and kidney after trauma are an anomaly. In contrast to general vesico-alimentary communication, a colonephric fistula almost invariably results secondary to an initial pathological process in the kidney. A primary infectious cause has by far been the most common renal pathology implicated in its formation. The diagnosis of this condition is suggested by pneumaturia but almost entirely based on radiological examination. Even though conservative strategies have been attempted, surgical resection is the treatment of choice and should be pursued if all else fails. We report a case of a subacute presentation of a colonephric fistula following blunt trauma with a documented injury to the kidney associated with a possible concomitant injury to the large bowel. However, the inciting event could also have been a primary occult colon injury overlying the renal injury, eventually culminating in a fistula between the two organs resulting in pneumaturia and signs of sepsis. A review of the literature on colonephric fistulae and their appropriate management strategies are reported and briefly discussed. It is important to be familiar with its clinical symptoms so that the diagnosis can be suspected, and adequate investigative and therapeutic approaches can be implemented.