Emphysematous cystitis presenting as severe confusion and abdominal pain: two case reports

INTRODUCTION: Emphysematous cystitis is a very rare complicated urinary tract infection characterized by air in the bladder wall. CASE PRESENTATION: We report two clinical cases of emphysematous cystitis of an 83-year-old Caucasian woman with diabetes mellitus and a 78-year-old Caucasian man with no past medical history. They presented with severe confusion and abdominal distension. Emphysematous cystitis was diagnosed in time with a thorough physical examination, urine analysis and computed tomography. The patients were successfully treated with antibiotic therapy and bladder drainage. CONCLUSION: This rare disorder should be recognized in time and treated properly to guarantee survival.