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Pneumaturia: Definition, Causes, and Symptoms

Definition of Pneumaturia

Pneumaturia is the passage of gases into the urine; it may be a symptom of serious diseases.

Causes of Pneumaturia

Pneumaturia is most often a sign of a vesicointestinal fistula caused by diverticulitis, colon cancer, Crohn disease, or after irradiation. Additional symptoms for vesicointestinal fistula are fecaluria or recurrent urinary tract infections. Rarely, gas-producing bacteria in severe urinary tract infections cause pneumaturia, see figure emphysematous cystitis. The medical history has to identify (single and harmless) pneumaturia after cystoscopy or catheterization.