INTRODUCTION: Ketamine is frequently abused nowadays as a recreational drug. Case reports are emerging since 2007 to describe a new clinical entity of severe bladder dysfunction associated with chronic abuse of street ketamine.
CLINICAL PRESENTATION: Severe lower urinary tract symptoms of urinary frequency and urgency which are refractory to conventional treatment. Quality of life is adversely affected as a consequence. Chronic kidney disease will develop in advanced cases. Investigation findings: The urine is sterile on culture. Ultrasound will show reduced bladder capacity with thickened bladder wall. In advanced stage, hydronephrosis and renal impairment will develop.
TREATMENT: Patients should be advised to stop street ketamine use immediately. Anticholinergic medication could be tried to alleviate the symptoms. Refractory cases with dilatation of the upper urinary tract might need urinary diversion.
CONCLUSION: Awareness of this new condition is essential in diagnosis. Early intervention offers better treatment outcome.
KEYWORDS: Ketamine; bladder dysfunction; lower urinary tract symptoms
* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.