Evaluation of bladder clots using a nonsurgical treatment.

Objective: To introduce a novel method to successfully evacuate severe clot retention in the bladder.

Methods: A total of 22 male patients were treated using our method for severe clot retention. The bladder was irrigated with 40,000 U chymotrypsin in 50 mL of 5% sodium bicarbonate using a Foley catheter (20 F-24 F) for 30 minutes. The clots were then easily mobilized and evacuated using continuous saline irrigation and suction with a 60-mL syringe. The procedure was repeated 2-4 times until all the blood clots had been evacuated.

Results: Of the 22 patients, 19 were successfully treated using this method, with clot retention thoroughly resolved.

Conclusion: The chymotrypsin and sodium bicarbonate irrigation technique is safe, inexpensive, and a successful method to evacuate severe clot retention.