Urologists at the University Hospital of Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University performed a unique operation — they removed a mercury thermometer from the bladder of a 42-year-old patient. The foreign object had been in the woman’s body for about eight years and during that time became completely covered with stones.
How the Thermometer Was Discovered in the Bladder
A resident of the Lviv region sought medical help with complaints of constant lower abdominal pain, frequent urges to urinate, and urine leakage. During an ultrasound examination, doctors found a formation in the bladder that resembled a large stone with a rod inside. To clarify the diagnosis, the woman was referred for a computed tomography scan.
The CT scan gave a clear answer: inside the bladder was a mercury thermometer, which over the years had become completely encrusted with salts and had effectively turned into a stone. According to urologist Vasyl Matviiv, it was truly an unusual finding even for experienced specialists.
What Complications the Thermometer Caused
The presence of a foreign object in the bladder for such a long time led to serious consequences for the patient’s health. The stone that formed around the thermometer caused a pressure sore on the bladder wall. In addition, the woman developed a vesicovaginal fistula — a pathological connection between the bladder and the vagina, which caused the urine leakage.
Doctors note that any foreign body in the bladder inevitably becomes a center of salt crystallization. Over time, a stone forms around the object, grows, and causes chronic inflammation, pain, and disruption of normal urination.
How the Patient Will Be Treated
The woman’s treatment will take place in several stages and will last several weeks. At the first stage, urologists have already removed the foreign body together with the stone that formed around it. After the surgical wound has fully healed and the infectious process has been eliminated, the patient will undergo reconstructive surgery to repair the vesicovaginal fistula.
The woman chose not to disclose how the thermometer got into her bladder. Doctors respect her decision and are focused on restoring the patient’s health.
Why It Is Important to Consult a Urologist in Time
Specialists at the University Hospital emphasize: prolonged lower abdominal pain, frequent urges to urinate, urine leakage, or any other discomfort in the urinary system is a reason to see a doctor immediately. The sooner the cause of the symptoms is established, the lower the risk of serious complications.
This case clearly demonstrates how important it is not to ignore the body’s warning signs. Eight years of chronic discomfort could have been avoided if the patient had sought help earlier.