Urinary Retention Secondary to Congenital Bladder Diverticula in Infants

Abstract

Acute urinary retention in infants is uncommon. We present 2 patients in whom enormous bladder diverticula extended posteriorly, compressing the bladder outlet and causing obstruction. In 1 patient the diverticulum was solitary, periureteral and associated with ipsilateral ureteral reflux, while the other had bilateral paraureteral diverticula without reflux. Primary bladder diverticula in infants and children are the congenital result of localized deficient musculature allowing herniation of mucosa to occur at this site, even with normal voiding pressures. Giant bladder diverticula causing outlet obstruction in small children are rare and constitute one of the unusual indications for bladder diverticulectomy in children.