Ketamine bladder, also known as ketamine bladder syndrome, refers to lower urinary tract symptoms associated with long-term ketamine use.
On this page:
Epidemiology
The presence of lower urinary tract symptoms in long-term ketamine users has been identified to be as high as 90% in some studies 1.
Clinical presentation
Symptoms may include 2:
dysuria
nocturia
frequency
incontinence
haematuria
In users who infrequently take the drug, mild intermittent symptoms have been reported 2.
Radiographic features
Ultrasound
Ultrasound features may include 2:
small bladder volume
bladder wall thickening
CT
Imaging features on CT may include 2:
bladder and ureteric wall thickening
mucosal enhancement
perivesical inflammation
Treatment and prognosis
Treatment mainly involves ketamine cessation and analgesia. In severe cases, reconstructive surgery may be required 1,2.
Complications
Ureteric stricture and vesicovaginal fistula formation are possible complications 1-3.