Urethral polyembolokoilamania: not a bread-and-butter issue

Abstract

Urethral polyembolokoilamania, the self-insertion of a foreign body into the male urethra for sexual gratification and autoerotism, is an uncommon urological emergency with potentially severe consequences. We present the case of a 27-year-old male who presented to our emergency unit after apparently sustaining a penile injury during sexual intercourse. Clinically, a foreign body was thought to be palpable, extending from the mid-shaft of the penis to the penoscrotal junction. Pelvic X-rays confirmed a radiopaque penile foreign body in the region of the anterior urethra. Cystoscopy confirmed the presence of an encrusted foreign body in the anterior urethra. It noted that the surrounding mucosa was very inflamed with areas of necrosis, suggesting that the foreign body had been present in the urethra for some time. To avoid further urethral trauma, we approached the foreign body via an external urethrotomy and removed a plastic knife in three parts. The urethra was repaired over a 16F catheter. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course, and a peri-catheter urethrogram 6 weeks after the procedure showed no signs of contrast extravasation or urethral stricture.

Keywords: Urethral polyembolokoilamania; foreign body in urethra.

Figure 1.

Pelvic X-ray showing a radio-opaque foreign body in the region of the anterior urethra.

Figure 2.

Photograph of the retrieved foreign body – a plastic knife retrieved in three pieces; the two smaller pieces heavily encrusted.