Pneumaturia

Pneumaturia is the passage of gas or "air" in urine. This may be seen or described as "bubbles in the urine".

Causes
A common cause of pneumaturia is colovesical fistula (communication between the colon and bladder). These may occur as a complication of diverticular disease. Pneumaturia can also happen if a urinary catheter was recently in the bladder.

Other key differentials:
 * Crohn's disease
 * Carcinoma of the colon or bladder
 * A gas-producing UTI (emphysematous cystitis: rare).
 * Emphysematous pyelonephritis.

Male scuba divers utilizing condom catheters or female divers using a She-p external catching device for their dry suits are also susceptible to pneumaturia.

Diagnosis
Diagnosis is made by patient history of passing air or a sputtering urine stream. CT scans may show air in the urinary bladder or bladder walls.