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.