[Intravesical explosion with rupture of the bladder wall during transurethral resection].

A 74-year-old patient underwent transurethral electroresection for a bladder tumor located at the anterior wall close to the air bubble. Intraoperatively, an explosion occurred. Computed tomography documented laceration of the anterior bladder wall with numerous small gas bubbles dispersed in the perivesical area. The etiology of intravesical explosions is based on formation of hydrogen during electroresection. Hydrogen by itself is not explosive; a blast will occur only when atmospheric oxygen is admixed and then ignited by sparks from electroresection. To prevent such a complication, care must be taken not to activate the resection loop within the air bubble of the bladder.