An uncommon complication of a common procedure: aberrant placement of a catheter into the ureter following suprapubic cystostomy

A 70-year-old man was admitted with fever and urinary retention. Suprapubic catheter (SPC) was placed following failed attempts to catheterise due to a urethral stricture. The patient subsequently improved and a micturating cystourethrogram (MCUG) was arranged to assess his stricture. Upon injection of contrast via his SPC at the time of MCUG, it was noted the catheter had been inadvertently placed and the balloon dilated in the proximal third of the patient’s right ureter. The balloon was deflated and the catheter repositioned. An intravenous urogram done 4 weeks following repositioning of his catheter showed no adverse sequelae with a patent ureter and no hydronephrosis on the affected side.