pneumaturia pneumaturia pneumaturia is the passage of gas or "air" in urine. this may be seen or described as "bubbles in the urine". pneumaturiaemphysematous cystitis in computertomographyspecialtyurology causes a common cause of pneumaturia is colovesical fistula (communication between the colon and bladder). these may occur as a complication of diverticular disease. pneumaturia can also happen if a urinary catheter was recently in the bladder. other key differentials: crohn's disease carcinoma of the colon or bladder a gas-producing uti (emphysematous cystitis: rare). emphysematous pyelonephritis. male scuba divers utilizing condom catheters or female divers using a she-p external catching device for their dry suits are also susceptible to pneumaturia. diagnosis diagnosis is made by patient history of passing air or a sputtering urine stream. ct scans may show air in the urinary bladder or bladder walls.