The use of an alum irrigation in the treatment of massive bladder haemorrhage.

Abstract

Severe, massive bladder haemorrhage is a difficult and often frustrating clinical problem. The aetiologies are numerous and include irradiation, malignancy, severe infection and drug-induced changes. Among the numerous modalities of treatment that have been reported formalin, phenol and silver nitrate instillations have often been associated with significant side effects, morbidity and mortality and have had varying degrees of success. During the last two years we have used continuous closed irrigation of a sterile 0.5% alum solution in 16 patients. Alum is an astringent and acts by protein precipitation over the bleeding surface. Because of a low cell permeability its action is limited to the cell surface and interstitial spaces. The permeability of the cell membrane is reduced but remains viable. The preparation and the pharmaceutical aspects of the 0.5% alum irrigation will be discussed. The conclusion is that the technique of managing massive bladder haemorrhage is simple, efficient, nontoxic and less expensive than previously reported therapies. Therefore, irrigation with alum before instituting invasive means to control bleeding is recommended.

• Authors: R Schootstra, M F van Driel, R Hassankhan, R van de Werff, E T Oremus, D R Uges, H J Mensink
• Journal: Pharmaceutisch weekblad. Scientific edition (Pharm Weekbl Sci) Vol. 11 Issue 5 Pg. 175-8 (Oct 20 1989) ISSN: 0167-6555 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 2594469 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Alum Compounds
• Phenols
• Formaldehyde
• Silver Nitrate
• Aluminum

Topics

• Aged
• Alum Compounds (therapeutic use)
• Aluminum (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Formaldehyde (therapeutic use)
• Hemorrhage (chemically induced, therapy)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Phenols (therapeutic use)
• Silver Nitrate (therapeutic use)
• Therapeutic Irrigation
• Urinary Bladder Diseases (chemically induced, therapy)