Intravesical formalin for the treatment of massive hemorrhagic cystitis: retrospective review of 25 cases.

Between 1980 and 1988 25 patients with massive bladder hemorrhage were treated with intravesical instillation of 4% formalin in 19 cases and 10% in the remaining 6 cases; the contact time was 15 min in 20 cases. The etiology of the hemorrhage was cyclophosphamide therapy (1 case), pelvic radiotherapy (15 cases) and infiltrating bladder cancer in the remaining 9 cases. In 10 cases, the instillation of formalin was performed in bladders with a prior supravesical diversion. Complications included 1 case of vesicorectal fistula, 1 case of uretero-hydronephrosis and 1 case of vesical extravasation of formalin when a concentration of 10% was used at a volume superior to 50 ml. The only complication seen with 4% formalin was 1 case of upper urinary tract dilatation. Good results were obtained in 88% of cases, who achieved correct hemostasis during a mean of 4 months.