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Bladder Diverticulum & Kidney Problems

Bladder diverticulum is a mass in the bladder wall called a "pouch." These can either be present at birth (congenital) or acquired later in life. In many cases, it is of little significance, unless it develop symptoms. It is treated with surgery.

  1. Identification

    • Bladder diverticulum can either be a birth defect or a condition called "acquired diverticula," which develops after birth. The latter is caused by an infection or obstruction of the urinary tract which develops due to a benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The severity is based on the size of the diverticulum, but mild cases show no symptoms.

    Diagnosis

    • Bladder diverticulum is generally not problematic. It is not visible and is usually diagnosed due to repeated urinary tract infections.

    Causes

    • The kidney aids in the elimination of waste material from the blood, and if it malfunctions, the waste builds up in the blood and damages organs in the body, such as the bladder. Acquired diverticulum occurs from a diet with too little fiber. Fiber softens the stool and allows it to pass without much pressure. If the stool hardens and requires more force to eliminate, the walls of the colon develops weak spots, eventually forming a bulge and then pouches.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms include blood in the urine, repeated urinary tract infections, difficulty urinating, increased frequency in urination, painful urination, burning pain while urinating and obstruction of the urinary tract leading to stagnation of the urine. In most cases, the tumor is located in the bladder. In other cases, there is another tumor next to the ureter. This condition leads to vesicoureteral reflux because it causes the urine to travel back from the bladder to the kidneys.

    Treatment

    • Surgical removal of the sac is recommended for symptomatic bladder diverticulum. Dissection is conducted in the bladder, but it usually requires dissection of both internal and external areas. This can be difficult due to inflammation of the diverticulum.

    Post-Operative Procedures

    • Surgery is usually successful, and the use of catheters is necessary for up to two weeks afterward, to drain the bladder.

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